Mahayuti unveils Mumbai poll manifesto, promises tech-led governance, action against Bangladeshis

Mumbai: Aiming to establish a “triple engine sarkar’, the  BJP-led Maha Yuti comprising Shiv Sena and RPI (Athawale) promised a Mumbai free of potholes, slums, water-logging during monsoon and even Bangladeshis and Rohingyas besides a 50 per cent concession on fares for women in BEST buses, interest-free loan for women up to Rs five lakh for making them self-dependent and establishing small-scale industries. 

Riding high on the success of the Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, the manifesto, among other things, prioritise the requirements of womenfolk and the Marathi population in the state’s financial capital. 

The Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which is part of the Maha Yuti in Maharashtra, is contesting the elections separately in Mumbai. 

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) goes to polls on 15 January 2026 - and involves a multi-cornered contest with BJP-Shiv Sena-RPI (A), the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance and the Congress-Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi-RPI (Gavai) as the three main fronts while Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party and AIMIM are contesting separately on their own strength. 

The manifesto was released by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra  Fadnavis, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale, who were accompanied by the senior leaders of the three parties. 

“Mumbai has seen 25 years of inefficiency in civic governance, and now I want to tell people to give us the opportunity to bring transparency in civic administration," Fadnavis said in what was a dig at the Thackeray cousins --Uddhav and Raj. 

“Those who did scams would be shown the door,” said Shinde, who is the Shiv Sena chief leader. 

Fadnavis said his government was committed to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) and all eligible persons will get homes of 350 sq ft.

"We will request Prime Minister Narendra  Modi to lay the foundation stone of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project," he said, adding that an ecosystem will be created to ensure the upgradation of micro businesses and small-scale industries in the area, and even ineligible residents will be included.

“Some people speak about the Marathi manoos….but we are actually doing it. We have tried to make the daily lives of Mumbaikars easy. Uddhav Thackeray doesn't speak on development. We are unapologetic about Hindutva, but we speak 95% on development,” said Fadnavis. 

The chief minister asserted that the city would be made free of Bangladeshis Rohingyas.

“We will make Mumbai free of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas,” said Fadnavis, who is also the state home minister.

“Over the last one to one-and-a-half years (the administration and police) has done a good job…the highest number of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas have been deported…in fact, the Maharashtra government with the help of Indian Institute of Technology is developing an AI-based tool, which will help us identify the Bangladeshis and Rohingyas and (subsequently) help in their deportation,” said Fadnavis. 

According to him, it is at an experimental stage and has attained 60 per cent reliability. “We will go for 100 per cent,” he said, adding that the Bangladeshis infiltrate into India through the West Bengal border. “Then they move (to Mumbai and other parts of the country), secure documents…they look like us…they speak like us (and mix up),” he said, however, reiterated: “We will detect and deport Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.” 

The Congress, however, asked Fadnavis to provide the data on Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas who have been deported. 

“If the government has indeed identified the highest number of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, it should release the figures,” AICC secretary and Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said. 

On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Uddhav Thackeray said: “They are ruling the Centre for 12 years…they are in the State…how did they come.” Besides, he also mocked the BJP and the Shiv Sena for forging alliances with Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM in certain municipal councils.