“Bring 110 Seats, Then Talk Mayor”: Sanjay Raut Insists Mumbai Mayor Must Be Marathi as AIMIM Hits Back

Mumbai: The debate over who should lead Mumbai’s civic body has intensified ahead of the Municipal Corporation elections, with sharp political exchanges between Shiv Sena (UBT) and AIMIM leaders bringing identity, representation and development into focus.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut asserted that his party wants the Mayor of Mumbai to be a Marathi-speaking leader, urging political opponents to first prove their strength at the ballot box. He said winning a clear majority of seats should be the priority before making claims over the top civic post. Raut also remarked that if leaders from outside the Sena ecosystem claim to represent Mumbai, they should demonstrate public support on the ground.

AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan questioned the narrative around identity and eligibility for the Mayor’s post. He argued that Mumbai belongs to people of all communities and asked why citizens from Muslim communities—such as Khan, Pathan, Sheikh, Qureshi or Syed—should be seen as unfit to hold constitutional positions. Pathan further stated that representation should also extend to women, expressing hope that a hijab-wearing woman could one day become Mumbai’s Mayor.

Pathan accused the ruling establishment of avoiding real issues like lack of development and farmer suicides, and instead trying to polarise voters ahead of elections. He said debates around identity were being used to divert attention from governance failures.

Taking aim at BJP leader Navneet Rana, Pathan also responded to comments on population and family size, saying no one has stopped individuals from making personal choices. He dismissed claims linking community growth to political narratives and pointed out that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) among Muslims has been steadily declining, according to official data.