With less than a week to go for BMC Election, cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray
MNS chief Raj Thackeray, along with Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Uddhav Thackeray held a discussion on Mumbai's politics. PIC/ SCREENGRAB
In a video on X, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, and Marathi film actor Mahesh Manjrekar discuss the state of Mumbai, ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election 2026. The leaders claimed in the video that after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in Mumbai, they city gradually began slipping away from the control of Marathi manoos. They further alleged that the party has handed over Mumbai to entrepreneur Gautam Adani.
BJP has taken Mumbai’s economy to Gujarat, alleges Raj Thackeray
In the video, Raj Thackeray says, “The BJP has taken over Mumbai’s entire economy and shifted it to Gujarat. All the major projects have been handed to businessmen from Gujarat, and now they are not only taking away the city’s economy but also trying to shift Mumbai itself to Gujarat. The government is attempting to divide the city. All the airports are under Adani. They are strategically planning to give all the profits of Mumbai to Gujarat.”
He further alleged that these developments began taking place after Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power.
“The only difference between Adani and (industrialist Mukesh) Ambani is that, before PM Modi came to power, Ambani was in control, whereas Adani rose to prominence only after the PM’s victory,” said Raj Thackeray.
पक्षप्रमुख मा. श्री. उद्धवसाहेब ठाकरे आणि महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना अध्यक्ष@RajThackeray ह्यांची सामनाचे कार्यकारी संपादक संजय राऊत आणि दिग्दर्शक महेश मांजरेकर ह्यांनी घेतलेल्या संयुक्त मुलाखतीचा दुसरा भाग! pic.twitter.com/2fYLxucnL5
— ShivSena - शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) January 9, 2026
‘Is it fair to give away all the power to one businessman?’ asks MNS chief
“If the Congress or any other political party had favoured only one specific businessman, would the BJP have remained quiet and let it happen? Would they have stayed silent," the MNS chief further questioned.
He also claimed that PM Modi and the Home Minister are fixated only on developing one state of the country.
"They are not working to make Mumbai better,” Raj Thackeray alleged.
His cousin and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, “We are repeatedly saying that Mumbai’s Mayor should be a Maharashtrian, whereas the BJP is saying that Mumbai’s Mayor should be a Hindu. What are they trying to convey here? Are they implying that Marathi people are not Hindu? Does the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, mean that?”
Raut alleged that Maharashtra started falling behind after PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah came to power.
"Maharashtra was the country’s growth engine. After PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah came to power, Maharashtra started falling behind. They are trying to make Gujarat the growth engine of India while leaving Maharashtra behind,” said the Rajya Sabha MP, accusing the BJP leaders.
BJP views Mumbai as a hen that lays golden eggs: Uddhav Thackeray
“We consider Mumbai our city, our home, but these people [BJP] view it as a hen that lays golden eggs,” said Uddhav Thackeray.
Raj Thackeray again raised the language issue, saying that "Marathi leaders should reflect before giving away the state".
"Every Maharashtra party leader should think about the state and its condition. From EVMs to ballots, the BJP has played foul in elections across all states in the country. Even the Election Commission of India seems to be leaning towards the BJP and acting in its favour,” he said.
"Some parties may try to buy votes by giving money, liquor, drugs, or whatever else, but the people of Maharashtra should not fall into their trap. This is a question of the future of Marathi people and Maharashtra,” said his cousin Uddhav Thackeray, adding, “We do not distinguish between Muslims, Hindus, or any religion. A person who loves the country is ours.”
Why is BJP bringing religion into civic polls, questions Uddhav Thackeray
Raj Thackeray said, “Now that the BJP is claiming to fight for Hindus and align with them, let me remind you that during the Congress’s governance, India was ninth in beef exports. Under the BJP, India has risen to the first position. The only man who truly fought for Hindus and their rights, and showed that you could win without exploiting Hindutva, was Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. During Balasaheb’s time, the BJP was favouring the Gandhis, not Hindus.”
Civic problems are faced by everyone, not just by people of one specific religion, he added.
Uddhav Thackeray said, “Why is the BJP bringing religion into a municipal election? Issues like corruption and bad roads affect people of all religions, so why is the BJP dragging religion into this?”
BMC Election 2026 will be held on January 15 with the counting to be held the following day. The Thackeray cousins will face a stiff contest from BJP and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-headed Shiv Sena.
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