Tensions are simmering in Mumbai as BMC election campaigns kick into high gear. AIMIM firebrand Waris Pathan dropped a bombshell, accusing Uddhav Thackeray of being the ‘dushman’ or enemy of Muslims, a charge that resonates deeply in the city’s closely-knit communities.
Speaking at a vibrant street corner rally, Pathan dissected Thackeray’s political journey, from alliance with BJP to heading a rainbow coalition. ‘All this is drama. Shiv Sena remains anti-Muslim at its core,’ he asserted, rallying supporters with calls for ‘Muslim unity.’
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections aren’t just local; they mirror state power dynamics post-Shiv Sena’s vertical split. Controlling infrastructure, water, and waste management for India’s commercial hub, BMC’s 227 seats are battlegrounds for supremacy.
Pathan’s narrative taps into lingering grievances from 1992-93 riots, where Shiv Sena was accused of complicity. He positioned AIMIM as the genuine voice against ‘majoritarian politics.’
Responding indirectly, Thackeray recently emphasized inclusive development, but Pathan dismissed it as election-time posturing. Maharashtra politics watchers note AIMIM’s growing footprint, challenging NCP and Congress in minority pockets.
Legal delays have kept BMC under administrator rule, fueling public discontent over potholes, floods, and encroachments—issues parties are weaponizing.
As polls near, Pathan’s provocation might boomerang or bolster his base. With multi-party contests expected, independents and smaller players could sway outcomes. Mumbai’s voters, ever pragmatic, will decide if rhetoric translates to ballots.