BJP MP from Bengaluru Central P C Mohan (L), BJP leader K Annamalai.
Credit: X/ @annamalai_k | @PCMohanMP
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated its strong performance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other Maharashtra civic body elections with a pointed political swipe, reviving a recent war of words involving the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
BJP MP from Bengaluru Central, P C Mohan, took a jibe at MNS chief Raj Thackeray by sharing photographs of rasmalai on X. “Ordered some rasmalai. #BMCResults,” he wrote, in an unmistakable reference to Thackeray’s earlier remarks mocking Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai as 'rasmalai'.
The dig traced back to a heated exchange triggered during the BMC campaign after Annamalai described Mumbai as a global city, remarks that were seized upon by regional parties. At a joint Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS rally, Raj Thackeray questioned Annamalai’s authority to comment on Mumbai and derided him using the “rasmalai” slur. He also raised the controversial slogan “hatao lungi, bajao pungi”, a phrase historically used in a derogatory manner against South Indians.
Annamalai hit back sharply, saying he had even received threats of violence over his remarks. “I will come to Mumbai. Try cutting my legs,” he said, asserting that his comments had been distorted. Clarifying his position, Annamalai said praising Tamil leaders like K Kamaraj never diluted Tamil identity, just as calling Mumbai a world-class city did not diminish the central role played by Maharashtrians in building it. He also accused Shiv Sena leaders of insulting Tamils by mocking traditional attire such as lungis and veshtis.
"The people of Mumbai have spoken with crystal clarity! The historic victory of the Mahayuti alliance in the BMC elections is a resounding endorsement of development-first governance," Annamalai wrote on X after Maha Yuti victory.
Amid the political sparring, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya hailed the party’s civic poll success, calling it a “sweet ‘Rasmalai’ victory” for BJP in Mumbai. He congratulated Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and party workers, saying the “Triple Engine Sarkar” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would focus on Mumbai’s redevelopment and improving ease of living for Mumbaikars.
Notably, the BJP has used symbolic sweets as political messaging before. In 2024, after sweeping the Haryana Assembly elections, the party’s state unit sent a kilogram of jalebis to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s Delhi office to mark its third consecutive victory.
BJP's Tejinder Singh Tiwana and Yogesh Varma won from ward 47 and 35 respectively in Malad West, while Dakshata Kavthankar secured a win from ward 19 in Charkop, according to results released by the BMC.
Tiwana, the president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's Mumbai unit, shared the organisation's social media post with a picture of 'rasmalai' saying, "Results win in Mumbai, noise doesn't. Thank you, Mumbai."
Annamalai had canvassed for these candidates during his visit to Mumbai, holding public meetings and interacting with local voters in the respective wards.
During the campaign, the former Tamil Nadu leader had triggered a controversy after he described Mumbai as an "international city", remarking that it was "not a Maharashtra city", and drew sharp reactions from political opponents.
Responding to the statement, MNS chief Thackeray mocked Annamalai by referring to him as "rasmalai", invoking a controversial slogan associated with the Shiv Sena's early political campaigns.
Despite the online trolling and political jibes, the BJP candidates backed by Annamalai went on to secure victories in their respective wards.