Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a sharp political attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, asserting that the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election is a fight for their political relevance rather than a struggle for the rights of Marathi people.

Speaking at a high-voltage rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on the eve of the final phase of campaigning, Fadnavis said that attempts were being made to emotionally polarise voters by projecting the civic election as a threat to Mumbai and Marathi identity. “Mumbai’s future is not in danger. What is at stake is the survival of a few leaders,” he remarked, drawing loud applause from the crowd.

The Chief Minister underlined that Mumbai is an inseparable part of Maharashtra and dismissed any narrative suggesting otherwise. He accused opposition leaders of manufacturing fear to cover up years of alleged failure in civic administration. Without naming them directly at first, Fadnavis reminded voters of the long-standing rivalry between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, pointing out that their sudden unity was driven by political compulsion, not ideology.

At the rally, video clips from past years showing the two cousins attacking each other were played, prompting Fadnavis to comment that the visuals spoke for themselves. He suggested that the alliance was born out of desperation as both parties face an existential challenge in the country’s richest municipal body.

Reacting to claims that the BMC election would decide the fate of Marathi people in Mumbai, Fadnavis countered by saying that such arguments were misleading. He alleged that despite controlling the civic body for decades, the undivided Shiv Sena failed to deliver lasting solutions for Marathi-speaking citizens, including housing, jobs, and basic infrastructure.

Reiterating his goal for the city, Fadnavis said the BJP–Shiv Sena (Mahayuti) alliance aims to bring transparent, efficient, and corruption-free governance to the BMC. “Our resolve is to install a Mahayuti mayor and change the way Mumbai is governed,” he said, promising faster development and accountability.