As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections near on January 15, the political battle for Mumbai has heated up. The Thackeray cousins, Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, recently issued a joint manifesto, while the BJP countered with a charge sheet accusing the Thackeray-led administration of significant corruption during their BMC tenure.
Framing the election around a “Save Democracy” theme, the Thackeray camp alleges vote manipulation and appeals to young voters’ idealism. In contrast, the BJP has launched digital campaigns criticizing the BMC’s alleged corruption and hindrance to Mumbai’s transformation into a “Global City.”
Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) have united for the first time in years, presenting a shared vision for Mumbai under the slogan “Shabd Thackerencha” (word of the Thackerays). Their manifesto includes various welfare promises like a monthly allowance for domestic workers, affordable housing construction, free electricity, subsidized meals, and new medical colleges.
The BJP’s charge sheet alleges a corruption scandal of Rs 3 lakh crore during the Thackeray-led BMC governance, pointing out issues like potholes despite substantial road construction spending and irregularities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The party also questions the Thackeray camp’s commitment to Marathi language and highlights infrastructure projects completed under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Centre’s leadership.
Political analysts note the Thackerays’ attempt to appeal to “social security” and “identity,” focusing on promises like a Marathi Mayor and Mumbaikar land rights. The BJP, on the other hand, emphasizes performance and accountability, positioning itself as the force for modernizing Mumbai and contrasting its achievements with what it describes as past failures.
