A fresh political storm has erupted in Maharashtra after Tamil Nadu BJP leader K. Annamalai made controversial remarks about Mumbai during his visit to campaign for the party in the city.
At a time when the debate over “Mumbai for whom?” is already intensifying in the run-up to the civic elections, Annamalai poured fuel on the fire by referring to Mumbai as “Bombay” and claiming that it does not belong to Maharashtra. He further argued that Mumbai should be governed by “capable administrators” rather than being treated like any other city in the state.
Annamalai, who holds a senior position in the Tamil Nadu BJP, made these comments while addressing the media at a campaign event in Mumbai. Drawing comparisons with other major Indian cities, he said Mumbai’s civic budget stands at around Rs 75,000 crore, far higher than Chennai’s Rs 8,000 crore or Bengaluru’s Rs 19,000 crore. Because of this, he claimed, Mumbai must be run by “the best people,” adding that with Narendra Modi at the Centre, Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra and a BJP mayor in Mumbai, the city would be in safe hands.
However, his statement that Mumbai is “not a Maharashtra city but an international city” triggered a massive backlash across the state.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack, demanding immediate legal action against Annamalai. He accused the BJP leader of insulting Maharashtra and the 106 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the state’s formation. Raut also questioned Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for remaining silent on the issue.
Raut said that while BJP leaders repeatedly claim Mumbai will remain part of Maharashtra forever, their star campaigners are now saying the opposite on Mumbai’s own soil. Calling Annamalai’s statement an open provocation, he demanded that an FIR be registered and that Annamalai be arrested before being allowed to leave the state.
The controversy has now turned into a major political flashpoint in the BMC election season, further sharpening the already heated debate over Marathi identity and Mumbai’s future.
