04 January,2026 07:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ameet Satam, who heads the BJP’s Mumbai unit, alleged that Uddhav Thackeray was responsible for corruption amounting to Rs 3 lakh crore. Pic/X
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ameet Satam on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, accusing him of large-scale corruption and "insulting the Marathi community" through his recent remarks, news agency PTI reported.
Satam's allegations come after Thackeray claimed that if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had an expenditure budget of Rs 15,000 crore, the advance mobilisation amount given to contractors for various works reached Rs 3 lakh crore, which he described as a "scam".
Talking to reporters, Satam, who heads the BJP's Mumbai unit, alleged that Thackeray was responsible for corruption amounting to Rs 3 lakh crore, PTI reported.
"He (Thackeray) has not abused me alone. He has abused every Marathi person. He has insulted the Marathi manoos," Satam said, responding to Thackeray's recent jibe in which he referred to him as "Chatam."
Satam added that he came from an ordinary family and had not risen in politics due to anyone's patronage.
He further criticised the former chief minister over Mumbai's infrastructure, claiming that despite massive spending during Thackeray's tenure, the city's roads remain in poor condition, PTI reported.
"Although Rs 21,000 crore was spent on roads over the last 10 years, it is hard to tell whether there are potholes on roads or roads inside potholes," he said.
He also alleged irregularities during the pandemic, stating that the Covid-19 care centre at Mahalaxmi was set up to benefit builders.
"There was corruption in everything - body bags to PPE kits - nothing was spared," Satam claimed.
The BJP leader further alleged that Thackeray, while serving as chief minister, had extorted money from approximately 1,700 bar and restaurant owners.
Dismissing Thackeray's claims regarding the coastal road project, Satam said no concrete timelines were finalised during his tenure.
"All credit for the coastal road project goes to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," he asserted, reiterating his allegation that Thackeray was involved in corruption worth Rs 3 lakh crore.
Speaking at the release of the joint manifesto of Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), Thackeray had said, "According to my information, the BMC owes contractors Rs 3 lakh crore, pointing to a scam of Rs 3 lakh crore."
(With PTI inputs)
