I don’t have wings, so no question of anybody clipping them: Fadnavis, asserts support of BJP leaders

Claiming to have the blessings of 14 crore people of Maharashtra and senior leaders of the BJP, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday, June 28, 2026, made light of Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray’s “Operation Devendra” remarks and said that no one can clip his wings.

He also dismissed political rumors triggered after he and his former ally-turned-rival Uddhav Thackeray traveled on the same flight from Mumbai to Nagpur on Friday, June 26, 2026, claiming it was a “coincidence”.

Reacting to intense speculation in the state’s political circles, Mr. Fadnavis called it a “vedyancha market” (crazy market) and noted that it was not unusual for two leaders to travel in the same flight.

Mr. Fadnavis also made light of Mr. Thackerey’s “Operation Devendra” remark and said that since they have no wings, no one can clip them.

He spoke to reporters after visiting Palghar district to inspect Vadhavan Port and other infrastructure projects.

Addressing a rally on Saturday, June 27, 2026, Mr. Thackeray created a stir by saying that “Operation Tiger” was actually “Operation Devendra” and was aimed at diminishing the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to ensure that he does not enter the (future) race for the Chief Minister’s post.

“For me, political issues are secondary. My full concentration is on development,” Mr. Fadnavis said when asked about Mr. Thackeray’s remarks.

“I am a human being. I have no wings, so who can clip them? I have the blessings of the 14 crore people of Maharashtra and my senior leaders, so there is no need to worry,” he added.

“Operation Tiger” is the code name for engineering a split in the Shiv Sena (UBT) that resulted in the defection of six of the nine Lok Sabha MPs who joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena last week.

Mr. Fadnavis said he was surprised by the political excitement that ensued after he and his former ally-turned-rival Uddhav Thackeray traveled on the same flight from Mumbai to Nagpur on Friday, June 26, 2026.

“It was a coincidence. It is not unusual for two leaders to travel in the same flight. Sometimes I wonder whether we are in politics or ‘vedyancha bazar’ (mad people’s market),” Mr. Fadnavis said.

Claiming that there was no meaningful interaction during the flight, Fadnavis said, “He (Uddhav) was sitting in one corner and I was sitting in the other corner. If we had sat side by side, we could have chatted. What’s wrong with that?”

Responding to Mr Thackeray’s claim that he looked “helpless” during the trip, Mr Fadnavis said he spent his time during the flight watching a movie or web series which he had downloaded on his mobile phone.

“I was watching the plane from takeoff to landing. So where exactly did they see desperation on my face?” he asked.

Taking a swipe at Mr Thackeray, the senior BJP leader said, “I accept his good wishes. If he had given it in 2019, the picture would have been different. Since he could not do that, I accept those good wishes now.”