Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam.
Credit: X/@AmeetSatam
Mumbai: The election of Zohran Mamdani as the first Muslim Mayor of New York City had its echo in Maharashtra politics with senior BJP leader and three-time MLA Ameet Satam asserting that a “Khan” will not be allowed to become the Mayor of Mumbai.
The elections to BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the richest civic body of Asia and one of the biggest in India, is expected to be held in January 2026 - with Maharashtra’ State Election Commission setting the ball rolling for the much-awaited local bodies elections in this western Indian state.
Satam, who is the Mumbai BJP President and considered close to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said that the party will not allow vote-jihad.
“The way the political colour of some international cities is changing, after seeing the surnames of a few mayors and the ‘vote jihad’ of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, it feels necessary to stay alert regarding Mumbai If anyone tries to impose a ‘Khan’ on Mumbai, it will not be tolerated! Wake up, Mumbaikars,” Satam posted on X.
This is the second time that he made similar statement using the analogy.
The statement immediately snowballed into a political controversy.
However, later Satam said that what he was referring to was mentality.
“When I say `Khan', I am talking about a mentality. I have said it on September 17 as well, and I have been warning Mumbaikars about it. This mentality waves Pakistan's flags. I am warning Mumbaikars against a mentality that carries Pakistan's flags at rallies, where a bomb blast accused campaigns for a particular candidate. This is a divisive, radical and fundamentalist mentality. I am talking about Khans who are anti-national,” he said.
Besides, he added: “The hate is not against a community, but against anti-national, radical and fundamentalist elements, those who sympathise with Pakistan or try to weaken India. We will continue to fight such forces."
Criticising the statement, Lt Gen H S Panag (Retd), who is a defence analyst and commentator on strategic affairs, posted on X: “Why imposed? If at all, he or she will be elected.”