Historic Political Alliance in Maharashtra Ahead of BMC Elections

In a remarkable turn of events just before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Maharashtra's political landscape has witnessed an unprecedented alliance. After years of estrangement, Raj Thackeray (MNS) and Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) shared a platform during a grand rally held on Sunday. The two leaders emphasized 'Marathi identity' as they launched their election campaign, with Raj Thackeray issuing a direct warning to migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, igniting a surge in political fervor across the state.

Raj Thackeray took a strong stance on linguistic identity, asserting that the imposition of Hindi would not be tolerated. Addressing the crowd, he stated, "People from UP and Bihar need to understand that Hindi is not your language. I do not hate this language, but if you try to impose it on us, I will kick you out." His remarks were met with enthusiastic applause and chants from the thousands present at the rally.

Describing the civic elections as a pivotal moment, Raj warned that the stakes were much higher than merely controlling the BMC. He remarked, "They are coming from all sides and taking away your share. If you lose your land and language, you will cease to exist." He emphasized, "This is the last election for Marathi people. If you miss this opportunity today, you will be finished. Unite for Marathi and Maharashtra," recalling the sacrifices made to make Mumbai a part of Maharashtra. "Mumbai was gained through the sacrifices of many. What will we tell them?"

Raj also issued strict instructions to party workers for the voting day. "The appointed BLA should be ready by 6 AM. Stay alert, be cautious, and do not be negligent. If someone tries to vote again, throw them out," he urged, instructing workers to keep a close watch on EVMs and alleged double voters.

Uddhav Thackeray explained that this political alliance was formed in response to significant threats facing the city, which he described as a danger to its very existence. During the last joint rally before the civic elections, he stated that the cousins had set aside their differences for the sake of "Marathi people, Hindus, and Maharashtra."

Both leaders accused the BJP of pursuing a cultural and economic agenda that undermines Maharashtra's interests. Raj linked the controversy over the three-language formula and the proposal to make Hindi mandatory from grades 1 to 5 to a larger conspiracy. He clarified, "There is no anger against any language, but against its imposition," describing this policy as a test of whether the Marathi people are "aware or not."

They also accused the BJP of attempting to "loot" Mumbai and bring the city into Gujarat's economic fold. Raj claimed that since coming to power in 2014, the BJP has consistently favored the group led by Gautam Adani. Referring to the proposed Wadhavan port, he stated that control over Palghar, Thane, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region was part of a larger plan. He cited projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, asserting, "The long-term plan is to connect Mumbai to Gujarat." He urged voters to support the alliance, saying, "If the BMC is with us, they cannot sell land to Adani."

Uddhav accused the BJP of practicing 'fake Hindutva' and engaging in divisive politics before every election. He challenged them to show any election where they did not play Hindu-Muslim politics. He also criticized comments made by Tamil Nadu BJP leader Annamalai, who suggested that with Narendra Modi at the center, Devendra Fadnavis in the state, and a BJP mayor in Mumbai, "Bombay is not a city of Maharashtra. It is an international city." Uddhav argued that this statement revealed the BJP's true intentions, questioning whether the party aimed to rename Mumbai back to Bombay.

He further accused the BJP of corruption, alleging irregularities worth ₹3 lakh crore in the BMC during the previous Shiv Sena-BJP government, claiming that 50 to 60 percent of the cement used in infrastructure projects was purchased from Adani.

News Source- - Media House