BMC Polls: BJP Bets On Development And Security, Acharya Pawan Tripathi Slams Thackeray’s Marathi-Only Pitch

With all political parties having fielded their candidates for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the campaign in Mumbai has gathered pace. The Thackerays have foregrounded the issue of Marathi identity, asserting that the next BMC mayor will be Marathi.

The BJP, on the other hand, has entered the fray with development and security as its core agenda. Contesting the polls as part of the Mahayuti, the party appears determined to secure the mayor’s post in Mumbai this time.

Amid the campaign, Mumbai BJP General Secretary Acharya Pawan Tripathi visited the office of a leading news organisation, where he spoke at length on the party’s election strategy, candidate selection, and key civic issues. During the interaction, he also launched a sharp attack on the Thackerays, questioning their narrative on Marathi identity by asking whether Dawood Ibrahim, being Marathi, could also be considered fit for the mayor’s post.

‘Mumbai’s Election Is Being Fought by the Common Citizen’

Tripathi said the mood on the ground clearly favours the BJP-led alliance. According to him, the BMC election this time is being fought by ordinary Mumbaikars who want safety and development. He claimed there is no emphasis on caste, region, or language among voters, and that people are focused solely on seeing Mumbai become safer and more developed. On this basis, he asserted that Mumbai is heading towards a “triple-engine” government.

Mayor Will Be Hindu and Marathi, Says BJP

Responding to comparisons between the BJP and Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction’s stand on the mayor’s post, Tripathi said only a person who follows the ideology of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj should become mayor.

He reiterated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already clarified that the mayor will be both Hindu and Marathi. Raising a pointed question at the Thackerays, he said Dawood Ibrahim is also Marathi, and questioned whether they would consider making him mayor, making it clear that for the BJP, both identity and ideology matter.

Seat-Sharing Talks Took Time but No Dispute

On the delay in finalising seat-sharing between the BJP and Shiv Sena, Tripathi said the BJP is the country’s largest party and BMC elections are primarily fought by grassroots workers. Many workers aspire to contest, which is why discussions took some time. However, he stressed that the process was completed peacefully and without any dispute, and that senior leaders of both parties are now campaigning in coordination.

Thackeray’s Reunion ‘Confusion and Corruption Alliance’

Asked about the challenge posed by the Thackerays coming together after 20 years, Tripathi echoed Chief Minister Fadnavis’s description of it as an alliance of confusion and corruption. He maintained that issues like Marathi versus non-Marathi have no relevance for Mumbai’s voters, who are well aware of who can deliver development and security. According to him, voters are unconcerned about who joins hands with whom and will vote purely on performance.

Congress–Vanchit Tie-Up ‘Won’t Matter’

Commenting on the Congress contesting in alliance with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Tripathi said alliances are a matter of choice for political parties. He claimed that Congress does not have candidates for all 227 seats, nor do UBT and other parties, whereas the BJP alone has candidates for all seats. He asserted that such alliances would have no significant impact on the BJP-led alliance’s prospects.

Tickets for North Indians and Hindi Speakers

Tripathi said the BJP remains committed to the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas.’ He explained that tickets have been given without discrimination, based on clean image and winnability. According to him, 14 North Indians and a total of 21 Hindi-speaking candidates have been fielded, reflecting Mumbai’s inclusive cultural ethos.

‘Awaz Mumbaikaranchi, Sankalp BJP Ka’

Explaining the party’s outreach programmes, Tripathi said the BJP is preparing its manifesto under the theme ‘Awaz Mumbaikaranchi, Sankalp BJP Ka.’ For this, the party has engaged with people from all walks of life, including bhajan mandals singing in local trains, film personalities, boot polish workers, dabbawalas, taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers. Their feedback and problems will be incorporated into the manifesto, and he promised that once the BJP mayor is elected, these issues will be addressed on priority.

Focus on Religious Tourism

On tourism development, Tripathi said Mumbai should not only be seen as a commercial hub but also as a religious city. He highlighted the potential of religious tourism and proposed linking Siddhivinayak Temple, Babulnath, Mumbadevi, and Mahalaxmi temples into a well-planned religious tourism circuit.

Key Promises in the ‘Sankalp Patra’

Tripathi said the BJP does not merely make promises but fulfils them, which is why it calls its manifesto a ‘Sankalp Patra.’ He outlined key commitments, including resolving parking issues, improving healthcare services, constructing 140 km of metro lines every year, expanding the coastal road, and completing projects such as the Goregaon–Mulund tunnel and the Borivali–Thane tunnel. Ensuring equal water supply, better roads, and relief from traffic congestion will also be part of the party’s core commitments.