Overview
- Sanjay Raut said the BJP’s agenda is to stop a Marathi person from becoming the mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
- Kripashankar Singh’s remark about ensuring a Hindi-speaking mayor in Mira Bhayandar drew criticism, and his clarification that he meant a ‘Hindu mayor’ was rejected by the UBT.
- Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Saamana invoked the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and warned that any attempt to impose a non-Marathi mayor on Mumbai would face resistance.
- The Thackeray camp alleged Singh is a pawn in a Delhi-directed plan to dilute Marathi influence and attacked the Shinde faction for staying silent.
- Polls to 29 municipal corporations, including the BMC, are set for January 15, and Raut claimed the BJP plans to bring in leaders from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to campaign.