Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 2: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asserted that the next mayor of Mumbai will be from the ruling Mahayuti alliance and will be both Hindu and Marathi, intensifying the political debate ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Responding to a question, Fadnavis said, “The Mumbai mayor will be from the Mahayuti. The Mumbai mayor will be a Hindu and a Marathi person.” His statement comes amid sharp political exchanges over who should occupy the city’s top civic post.

The controversy was triggered after Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam reportedly remarked that the party would not allow any “Khan” to become Mumbai’s mayor, drawing strong reactions from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Recently, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, after coming together with his cousin and Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, had declared that Mumbai’s mayor would be Marathi. Fadnavis’ remarks have now further sharpened the BJP’s pitch, adding to the political sparring as campaigning gains momentum.

The chief minister made these comments during an interaction with ‘Mumbai Tak’ news channel as part of its programme ‘Mahachavadi’, while travelling on Mumbai’s underground Metro line and answering questions on various political issues.

Clarifying reports about former minister Kripashankar Singh’s alleged comments on a north Indian becoming Mumbai mayor, Fadnavis said Singh’s remarks were not made in the context of Mumbai and noted that he is not an official party spokesperson. Singh had earlier stated that efforts would be made to elect a “north Indian and Hindi-speaking” mayor in the Mira Bhayandar municipal corporation.

Elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the BMC, are scheduled to be held on January 15, with counting to take place the following day.