Responding sharply to the BJP’s criticism over remarks linked to the Mumbai mayoral race, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the demand for a Marathi mayor is about regional identity, not religion. Clarifying his party’s stand, Raut asserted that Mumbai, like other major Indian cities, should be led by someone rooted in the local culture and language. Reported by India Today.

Raut drew comparisons with other metropolitan cities, arguing that regional representation is a widely accepted democratic principle. He said cities such as Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai naturally expect leadership from Kannadiga, Bengali, and Tamil communities respectively, and Mumbai should be no different. Stressing the point further, he questioned attempts to communalise the issue, asking whether Marathi Hindus are being excluded from the broader Hindu identity.

Amid the political sparring, the Sena (UBT) leader also outlined his party’s electoral strategy for the upcoming local body elections, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Raut confirmed that his faction will contest the elections in alliance with the Congress and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). He said the alliance partners have agreed to stand united regardless of the final results, signalling a long-term opposition front in Maharashtra’s civic politics.

Taking aim at the ruling coalition, Raut alleged that the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde no longer operates independently. He claimed the group is effectively controlled by the BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing it of abandoning the ideological foundations laid by the party’s founders.

According to Raut, the Shiv Sena’s political strength and identity are inseparable from the legacy of Bal Thackeray and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. He maintained that without this legacy, the party loses its original purpose and connection with the Marathi-speaking population of Maharashtra.