With elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) just days away, political sparring in Maharashtra has intensified. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) MP Sanjay Raut asserted the enduring influence of the Thackeray family, claiming they still have the power to “shut down Mumbai in 10 minutes.”
Raut made the remark while speaking to NDTV, stressing that the Thackerays could never be erased from Maharashtra’s political landscape, especially in Mumbai. His comments come ahead of the January 15 civic body elections, including the crucial BMC polls, regarded as the contest for India’s richest municipal corporation.
The statement also comes in the backdrop of a rare political reunion between cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, who have come together after nearly two decades. The two leaders are jointly campaigning on the plank of Marathi asmita, or Marathi pride, hoping to consolidate regional sentiment in the high-stakes civic battle.
Raut described the reunion as a family matter, pointing out that Uddhav and Raj are brothers whose mothers are sisters. He said the Thackeray brothers, despite ideological differences, had united to prioritise the interests of Maharashtra and the Marathi identity. Calling them a “brand,” Raut said the survival of the Thackerays was intrinsically linked to the survival of the Marathi manoos in Mumbai. He also confidently predicted that the next mayor of Mumbai would belong to their camp.
However, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was quick to dismiss Raut’s claim. Responding sharply, Fadnavis termed the remark an “empty threat,” saying such shutdowns were possible only during the era of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. He argued that the political clout once wielded by the party no longer exists in the same form.
Fadnavis cited the example of chief minister Eknath Shinde forming the government despite opposition from the Uddhav Thackeray faction, saying earlier warnings that Shinde would not be allowed to enter Mumbai had proved hollow. According to him, the current leadership lacks the ability to enforce such citywide actions.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray has framed the upcoming BMC election as a fight for survival. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said the contest was not just about his party’s future but about protecting the Marathi character of Mumbai. He added that every major political party faced existential stakes in elections and questioned why only his faction was being portrayed as fighting for survival.
As campaigning intensifies, the BMC polls are shaping up to be a crucial test of political influence, regional identity, and shifting alliances in Maharashtra’s capital.