Fadnavis-Shinde target Thackeray camp, pitch development agenda at joint rally

With the battle for control of Mumbai civic body intensifying ahead of the BMC Election 2026 the ruling Mahayuti alliance on Saturday launched a sharp political attack on its rivals while projecting development and governance as its core agendaAddressing a joint rally of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena at the NSCI Dome in Worli Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the BMC elections as a contest to change Mumbairsquos image and improve the lives of its citizensFadnavis said the Mahayuti was a coalition that delivered on its promises unlike others who he claimed relied only on empty rhetoric a veiled reference to the Shiv Sena UBTVote us to power in the BMC and see the difference we make to the city the Chief Minister urgedFadnavis also used the rally to counter claims made by the Thackeray cousins over the Marathi identity of Mumbairsquos leadershipMumbairsquos mayor will be Marathi only he saidFirst joint public meeting of the BJPndashShinde Sena allianceThe rally marked the first joint public meeting of the BJPndashShinde Sena alliance for the prestigious civic polls The undivided Shiv Sena ruled the BMC for nearly 25 years Until 2017 the Shiv Sena and the BJP jointly governed the civic body before contesting separately in that yearrsquos elections In 2017 the undivided Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 84 seats while the BJP followed closely with 82 seats in the 227member civic bodyEchoing similar views Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that Balasaheb Thackeray was the only brand He was responding to claims by Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray that the Thackeray brand had reunitedMumbairsquos mayor would be MarathiThe Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS and Shiv Sena UBT have claimed that if the BJPndashShinde alliance comes to power Mumbai could get a nonMarathi mayor Both Fadnavis and Shinde reiterated that Mumbairsquos mayor would be MarathiShinde appeals to citizens to vote for allianceIn 2022 Shinde led a rebellion within the Shiv Sena that forced Uddhav Thackeray to step down as chief minister leading to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government Shinde later joined hands with the BJP to form a new government in MaharashtraContinuing his attack Shinde said during the rally It was Balasaheb Thackerayrsquos dream to see the Ram temple constructed and Narendra Modi fulfilled it Those who tried to create hurdles in Mumbai Metro projects should answer to the peopleHe added that Modi had provided Mumbai with muchneeded projects and support which he claimed earlier Congressled governments at the Centre had failed to deliver Rejecting allegations that the Union government was weakening Mumbai Shinde said it was instead working to strengthen and unite the cityWe must bring a government aligned with our ideology to the BMC Shinde said appealing to citizens to vote for the BJPndashShindeled Shiv Sena allianceThe BMC pollsElections to the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations will be held on January 15 with counting scheduled for the following dayWith civic polls approaching the FadnavisndashShinde leadership is seeking to wrest control of Mumbairsquos civic body from the Thackerayled camp promising improved infrastructure better governance and faster development to reassert political dominance in the cityAim to make Mumbai more safer and more liveableCalling for stricter law enforcement and infrastructure expansion Fadnavis said his governmentrsquos priority was to make Mumbai more safer and more liveable He added that authorities would identify and take action against illegal Bangladeshi migrants living in the city and deport those found to be staying unlawfullyLaunching another veiled attack on the Thackeray cousins Fadnavis said The Marathi manoos has been pushed out of the city over the years Who is responsible for the decline of Mumbairsquos traditional workingclass communities including mill workersConcluding his speech the Chief Minister outlined plans to ease daily commuting problemsNew roads bridges tunnels and freeways are part of a larger plan to decongest traffic and reduce travel time Fadnavis said adding that Mumbaikars should not have to spend hours stuck on the roads