Mumbai: The historic mayoral election victory of Indian-origin Muslim leader Zohran Mamdani in New York City has unexpectedly sparked a fierce political row in Mumbai, just ahead of crucial local body elections. On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey launched a scathing attack against Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam for his controversial comment that opposed the “imposition” of a ‘Khan’ as Mumbai’s mayor.
The ‘No Khan’ Warning from Mumbai BJP
The controversy began hours after Zohran Mamdani secured the New York City mayoral polls, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor, having defeated Donald Trump-backed Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Reacting to the international political development, Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam took to social media to issue a stark warning to Mumbai voters. He suggested that the changing “political colour of some international cities” and the alleged “vote jihad” by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) warranted caution in Mumbai.
Satam explicitly stated: “If anyone tries to impose a ‘Khan’ on Mumbai, it will not be tolerated! Wake up, Mumbaikars..!” The remark has been widely viewed as a communal attempt to target Muslim political representation ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Slams Satam: Calls for ‘Pagal Khana’ Treatment
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey reacted strongly to Satam’s post, using intensely personal and political rhetoric to condemn the BJP chief.
- Questioning Mental Health: Dubey questioned Ameet Satam’s mental state and even claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction would pay for his “treatment at Agra’s Pagal Khana” (mental asylum).
- Political Deterioration: “Ameet Satam’s mental state has deteriorated. From the day he became president, he realised he was about to be wiped out… That’s why he’s been making bizarre statements about the mayor of Mumbai from day one…,” Dubey was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
- Asserting ‘Marathi Hindu’ Mayor: While criticizing the BJP for constantly engaging in “Hindu-Muslim” politics, Dubey made a clear declaration regarding Mumbai’s civic leadership. He confidently stated that the saffron flag of the Shiv Sena would fly in the municipal elections, and “a Marathi Hindu will become the mayor here.”
Recalling PM Modi’s ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ Kits
The Uddhav Sena leader further amplified his attack by using the BJP’s own nationwide Muslim outreach initiative against Satam, urging him not to contradict the Prime Minister.
- The Counter-Question: Dubey recalled the ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ kits—festive kits distributed by the BJP’s minority wing to underprivileged Muslims in Uttar Pradesh and other states earlier this year during Eid-Ul-Fitr.
- A Direct Challenge: “I want to ask Ameet Satam if PM Modi was sending the Saugat-e-Modi kits to Mamdani, or Pakistan or Bangladesh?,” Anand Dubey asked, urging the BJP chief to not “prove PM Modi wrong” in his stated policy of inclusive development. The ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ kits were distributed among 10 lakh Muslims in Uttar Pradesh alone in March.
The aggressive exchange underscores the escalating political tensions between the two parties ahead of the announcement by Maharashtra Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare that polls to 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats in the state will take place on December 2.