MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday slammed the recently united Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, saying the January 15 Mumbai civic polls are a battle for the cousins’ survival, not for the Marathi people.Speaking at a rally in support of the Mahayuti alliance of BJP-Shiv Sena on the penultimate day of campaigning, Fadnavis emphasized that Mumbai is an inseparable part of Maharashtra and no one can attempt to divide it.At the Shivaji Park rally for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election, Fadnavis showed old clips of Uddhav and Raj, who have joined hands for the civic polls after nearly two decades of rivalry, attacking each other in the past.Responding to Raj Thackeray’s remark that the civic election would be the last for Marathi people, Fadnavis retorted, “Your own survival is at stake.”“The (BMC) election is not about threat to Mumbai, Marathi speakers, but your own survival,” the BJP CM noted, referring to the Thackeray cousins, whose parties are pitted against the BJP-Shiv Sena combine to control India’s biggest and richest civic body with over Rs 74,000 crore budget.Fadnavis, once an ally of Uddhav Thackeray, said his focus is on installing a Mahayuti mayor in Mumbai and ensuring transparent civic governance.“We will transform the city,” he vowed, appealing to people to vote for the BJP and Shiv Sena in Thursday’s polls.Fadnavis said the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government (Nov 2019–June 2022) made Hindi compulsory from Classes 1 to 12 under the New Education Policy and scrapped the Dharavi redevelopment tender issued by his government before 2019.“When we came to power we realised that the tender of the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government was not proper. We allotted the work to Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DPR) in which the state government is a major stakeholder and Adani group is the developer,” he told the gathering.The mega project aims to transform Asia’s largest slum, Dharavi, into a modern, planned township with permanent housing for residents, along with upgraded infrastructure and commercial spaces.He emphasized that Marathi is the only compulsory language in Maharashtra. “Under a three-language policy, one can learn any language of their choice, but Marathi is a compulsory language in Maharashtra,” the added.Fadnavis said the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which started operations last month, was proposed several years ago to decongest the Mumbai airport and was completed in five years.“We will construct a third airport (in Mumbai region) and also increase the capacity of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai,” he declared.Fadnavis said the Indian economy has been on a healthy growth trajectory since 2014, with the net worth of several companies increasing during this period.“Non-BJP-ruled states have also taken investment from Adani group companies,” he emphasised.The BJP leader slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray for imitating him in public and said at least his uncle (Raj Thackeray) does better mimicry.“He (Aaditya) must remember what condition his uncle’s party (MNS) is due to mimicry. Uddhav Thackeray wants me to have a debate with Aaditya Thackeray. I challenge Uddhav Thackeray to send Aaditya for debate tomorrow (Tuesday) which is the last date of campaign and our candidate Sheetal Gambhir will debate with him,” Fadnavis said.He asserted that the Mahayuti flag will fly atop the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, head of Shiv Sena, and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, a BJP ally, were also present at the rally.(With agency inputs)
