“Mumbai is at stake,” warns Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray has admitted that one may see his reunion with cousin Raj Thackeray as unexpected However he said the cousins coming together is driven by a shared commitment to Marathi asmita and the larger interest of Maharashtra Interestingly when asked whether there is a possibility of realigning with the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP in the future he neither confirmed nor denied itIn a wideranging interview Thackeray spoke candidly about Mumbairsquos worsening civic crisis air pollution and political realignments ahead of the highstakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections Thackeray repeatedly returned to one central theme that Mumbai itself is what is truly at stakeExcerpts from an interviewMumbaikars face the same problems every year potholes broken roads flooding and no safe space to walk Can this really change or should people accept that this is how Mumbai will always beThere is no denying that Mumbai has always had problems What is worrying however is that these problems have sharply worsened in the last few years Since February 2022 after the term of 227 BMC corporators ended the city has been run by administrators During this period the situation has deteriorated further with little accountability and no one to answer citizensrsquo questions Instead of fixing basic civic issues the current Maharashtra government in the name of development has allowed haphazard construction whether it is roads infrastructure projects redevelopment or unchecked building activityMumbai citizens are already dealing with several problems and in the past few years another has been added to the list poor air quality which was not as bad a decade agoThe quality of work has fallen so badly that roads barely last a season construction dust hangs in the air and pollution levels have reached dangerous limits Mumbaikars are no longer just battling potholes and broken roads they are also struggling to breathe clean air The situation has become so serious that like the warning printed on tobacco products one feels the city now needs caution boards everywhere stating ldquoInhaling this air is injurious to healthrdquoDuring Bal Thackerayrsquos time there were differences and dissatisfaction within the party but no one openly rebelled against the organisation Your leadership style is seen as calmer and more accommodative Do you believe this difference played a role in the rebellion and eventual splitMaybe my nature did play a role But I will not change the way I am I believe in trusting my cadre and leaders and treating everyone with equal respect love and affection That is how I function and I see no reason to correct myself for that I choose to trust people and give them responsibility It is then up to them to live up to that trust and deliverRaj Thackeray quit the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005 Did you ever imagine that the two cousins and their parties would come together againOne may call it unexpected but this reunion is deeply rooted in Marathi identity and the pride of Maharashtra We were separated earlier but when there were attempts to impose Hindi we felt it was being done to divide us for someone elsersquos political motives Both Raj and I felt there was no reason to give in to what others wanted That realisation brought us together We have come together with the resolve to stay united and stand for Marathi pride and Maharashtrarsquos interests We intend to stay united foreverYou have often said your differences are not with the entire BJP but with a few leaders at the Centre and in the state If those leaders were no longer in the picture would you consider joining hands with the BJP againWhen the time comes we will see Why discuss it now Neither confirming nor denying the possibilitySeveral welfare schemes have been announced including R1500 monthly assistance to domestic workers and meals at R10 Where will the funding come from Will this strain the BMCrsquos financesThis is a valid question and I am glad it is being asked We plan to stop unnecessary and haphazard development works that are carried out only to benefit contractors and generate kickbacks for elections By cutting wasteful spending and prioritising essential projects funds can be redirected towards genuine welfare schemesYou launched the Mee Mumbaikar initiative in the early 2000s At a time when the narrative is increasingly Marathi versus nonMarathi do you still stand by that inclusive visionMarathi people have never hated or clashed with any other community Tensions arose only when Marathi identity language or regional pride was provoked Reactions came in response to such incidents not out of hostility For us anyone who loves and respects Mumbai its language and Maharashtrarsquos culture is a Mumbaikar Cordial relations between Marathi and other communities have always existed and will continue to exist I firmly believe in the Mee Mumbaikar campaign and its inclusive spiritDo you believe having the Congress in the alliance could have prevented a split in antiBJP votes and changed the BMC outcomeCongress initiated the move and announced it would contest the elections separately They did not leave space for dialogue or further discussionsFinally what is at stake for you personally in this BMC electionFor me it is Mumbai that is at stake