Devendra Fadnavis.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mumbai: The BJP on Tuesday launched the campaign for the upcoming Mumbai civic body polls with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressing a rally at iconic Dome in Worli, nearly a couple of months after Thackeray cousins - Uddhav and Raj - came together on the issue of Marathi language and pride, and larger cause of Maharashtra.
Incidentally, Worli is the Vidhan Sabha seat of Uddhav’s son Aaditya Thackeray, a former minister in the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi dispensation led by his father.
The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is one of the biggest and the richest civic bodies of Asia.
The BJP Vijay Sankalp Melava was organised by the newly-apppointed BJP Mumbai chief Ameet Satam.
Fadnavis, the BJP’s trouble-shooter, who calls the shots in Maharashtra, made it clear that the next Mayor of Mumbai will be from the BJP-led Maha Yuti. “Come what may...mediapersons must write this, record this…the next Mayor of Mumbai will be from Maha Yuti,” he said.
The BMC campaign was launched on the eve of the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Our brand is Modi Ji and his work,” said Deva Bhau, as Fadnavis is popularly known.
For more than quarter of a century, the undivided Balasaheb Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena had been controlling the BMC. In fact, the Shiv Sena has been ruling the civic body since 1985 except for a period between 1992-1996.
The last five-year term of the BMC - elected in 2017 ended on 7 March, 2022 - and there is no general body - the BMC’s Municipal Commissioner acts as an state government-appointed Administrator.
For Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray retaining BMC is a major task, however, he would face a massive challenge from the BJP and its allies Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
On the other hand, Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and Raj, the MNS president, seem to have come to an agreement to contest the BMC polls together.
However, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi which besides Uddhav’s party comprises Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP) and Congress, is yet to convey whether they are okay with Raj’s entry in the opposition alliance.