Overview
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the next Mumbai mayor will come from the ruling Mahayuti and be both Hindu and Marathi, while clarifying Kripashankar Singh’s north-Indian mayor remark referred to Mira Bhayandar and that Singh is not a BJP spokesperson.
- Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS accused the BJP of seeking to block a Marathi mayor, with Saamana warning of a public backlash if a non-Marathi is imposed on Mumbai.
- The UBT–MNS alliance presented a mini-manifesto promising a Rs 1,500 monthly Swabhiman Nidhi for domestic helps and Koli women, property tax waiver on homes up to 700 sq ft, affordable housing, cheaper BEST fares, and five new medical colleges.
- Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said some parties invoke Marathi pride only near polls and highlighted road, Metro and Coastal Road works, as the MNS alleged unopposed wins for some Shiv Sena candidates were engineered through misuse of administration.
- Campaign rhetoric intensified after Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam’s remark about not allowing any ‘Khan’ to become mayor, with voting for 29 municipal corporations set for January 15 and counting on January 16.