Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 4: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Sunday jointly released their manifesto titled ‘Vachan Nama’ for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15, marking a significant step in the revival of their political alliance.
The manifesto was unveiled at a joint press conference at Shiv Sena Bhawan in Mumbai, a venue Raj Thackeray returned to after nearly two decades. The cover page features both Thackeray cousins alongside Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
Addressing the media, Uddhav Thackeray asserted that “Mumbai’s mayor will be a Marathi”, a sentiment echoed by Raj Thackeray, who said the mayor of Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra must be Marathi and that respect for the Marathi language is non-negotiable.
The Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance promised a series of civic reforms aimed at improving urban living, including affordable housing and stronger infrastructure in healthcare, public transport and education. As per the manifesto, women domestic workers and Koli women will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 under the proposed Swabhiman Nidhi scheme.
Other key promises include reducing the minimum BEST bus fare from Rs 10 to Rs 5, adding more buses and routes, scrapping property tax on homes up to 700 square feet, and ensuring one parking space per flat in redeveloped buildings.
Both leaders launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Mahayuti government over candidates winning civic seats unopposed. Uddhav Thackeray demanded that elections in such wards be cancelled and the polling process restarted, alleging that voters were being deprived of their democratic rights.
“Democracy is being undermined. The atmosphere in the country is like democracy has been taken over by mobocracy,” Uddhav said, accusing ruling parties of manipulating the electoral process. He further alleged that after “vote-stealing”, the BJP had now started “stealing candidates”, and urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to act decisively.
Uddhav also alleged large-scale corruption in the BMC since his government fell in 2022, claiming that while the civic body’s annual expenditure is around Rs 15,000 crore, advance mobilisation payments to contractors have reached nearly Rs 3 lakh crore, calling it a massive scam allegedly used to influence elections.
Targeting Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Uddhav accused him of threatening candidates and voters, interfering in the nomination process, violating the model code of conduct and tampering with CCTV footage. Narwekar has rejected the allegations as politically motivated.
Raj Thackeray, meanwhile, warned the BJP that power is not permanent and accused it of setting dangerous precedents. He questioned the party’s silence over unopposed victories in Maharashtra, recalling that it had earlier approached the Supreme Court over similar issues in West Bengal.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission has sought a detailed report from the BMC chief following complaints of rejection of nomination forms in certain Colaba wards, where relatives of Speaker Narwekar are contesting.
Polling for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16. Elections will be held for 2,869 seats across 893 wards, with Mumbai accounting for 227 seats.
Seat-sharing between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS has been finalised, with Shiv Sena (UBT) set to contest 145–150 seats, the MNS 65–70 seats, and 10–12 seats allotted to the NCP.