As political temperatures rise ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a sharp attack on the BJP over its campaign strategy in Mumbai. Questioning the need for national-level leaders to campaign in the city, Raut said Mumbai’s politics should be decided by its own people, not by leaders brought in from outside.

Speaking on the issue of star campaigners, Raut argued that the BJP already controls power, administration, and financial resources in the state. If that is the case, he asked, why does the party need to depend on the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister, or leaders from other states to fight a municipal election in Mumbai?

Raut accused the BJP of trying to disturb the city’s social fabric by projecting external leaders as key campaign faces. He said Mumbai has its own political identity and strength, and elections here should be contested on local issues and grassroots support rather than through high-profile visits.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader asserted that his party does not rely on imported faces for legitimacy. According to him, Sena workers on the ground and the city’s Marathi-speaking population are the real strength of the party. He added that the people of Mumbai themselves are the true “star campaigners” for Shiv Sena (UBT).