Shinde Warns: Without Mahayuti’s Win in BMC Polls, Mumbai Could Fall 25 Years Behind

by Webdesk
03 Oct 2025

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Uddhav Thackeray, asserting that Mumbai would “fall back by 25 years” if the Mahayuti alliance failed to win the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Speaking at the Shiv Sena’s Dussehra rally held at the NESCO grounds in Goregaon, the Deputy Chief Minister called upon party workers to put aside differences and work unitedly to take Mumbai forward.

Originally, Shinde’s rally was planned at Azad Maidan, but due to heavy rainfall in the city, the venue was shifted to the smaller NESCO grounds. Despite the sudden change, Shinde claimed he had deliberately kept the rally low-key because most of his party workers were busy assisting citizens affected by floods in different parts of the state.

Throughout his speech, Shinde took several direct jibes at Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of betrayal and mismanagement. “He is not a leader but a conspirator,” Shinde said pointedly. “I have never seen anyone who works so hard to destroy his own people. Balasaheb Thackeray created a generation of leaders with his vision and courage. Who is responsible for the present downfall of the party? After the upcoming civic elections, even his shadow will desert him,” Shinde declared amid loud cheers from his supporters.

Turning his attention to the ongoing crisis faced by flood-affected farmers across Maharashtra, Shinde said the government was fully committed to providing relief. “The top layer of fertile soil has been washed away in several regions, and thousands of cattle have died. This is a severe loss to farmers,” he said. “As a responsible government, we will extend every possible help. Tomorrow, I will be meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar to discuss aid packages. My hands are never empty — whenever I go to people, I ensure help reaches them. We will take responsibility for rebuilding lives and even help with marriages of the youth in flood-hit areas,” Shinde announced.

In a clear swipe at Uddhav Thackeray, though without mentioning his name, Shinde said true leadership lies in generosity and action, not in excuses. “One must have the will to give. I always have something to offer. But where has all the money gone — to London? He always says he has nothing to give. Maybe that’s because everything has been taken elsewhere,” Shinde said sarcastically, provoking laughter from the crowd.

Continuing his attack, Shinde mocked Thackeray’s past style of leadership. “When floods struck, I went to the affected areas myself. I didn’t tour the disaster zones in a vanity van,” he said, making an indirect reference to Uddhav’s highly publicized visits during his tenure as Chief Minister.

Highlighting the government’s relief measures, Shinde mentioned that his administration had provided essential kits to farmers affected by the floods. “We distributed kits with 26 necessary items to every affected family,” he explained. “But what did they do? Have they even given a single packet of biscuits?” he asked rhetorically, again targeting Thackeray’s party for only criticizing his efforts instead of taking any meaningful action.

Recently, the opposition had accused the Shinde group of printing their leaders’ photographs on the relief kits, to which Shinde indirectly responded, saying, “When people receive help, they should remember who stood by them during hard times. Some only know how to criticize, while others act.”

Without directly naming Uddhav Thackeray or the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Shinde also made a reference to their new alignment. “Don’t waste your time worrying about who is joining hands with whom,” he told his party workers. “Our focus must remain on serving people and ensuring that Mumbai continues to progress. The people of this city will decide who truly works for them.”

Towards the end of his speech, Shinde invoked the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, promising to celebrate his birth centenary in 2026 in a grand manner. “Balasaheb Thackeray is not just a name, he is an emotion for every Shiv Sainik. His 100th birth anniversary will be celebrated on a massive scale across Maharashtra. We will make sure every Marathi household remembers his contribution,” he said.

The rally concluded with slogans of “Jai Maharashtra” echoing through the venue, as Shinde reiterated his call for unity among Mahayuti allies. He stressed that only through collective effort could Mumbai continue its journey of growth. “If Mahayuti fails to win the BMC election, the city will lose 25 years of progress. We cannot allow that. This is not just a fight for power — it is a fight to protect the legacy of Balasaheb and the future of Mumbai,” Shinde declared passionately.

Image Courtesy:

02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

Shinde Warns: Without Mahayuti’s Win in BMC Polls, Mumbai Could Fall 25 Years Behind

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