Mumbai: In a politically charged interaction ahead of the crucial municipal elections in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday sent out a strong message on the future of Mumbai’s civic governance, indicating that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will undergo a decisive administrative overhaul once the polls are over. Stressing that inefficiency and internal resistance within the civic body will not be tolerated, Fadnavis said the post-election phase will mark a shift towards a transparent, corruption-free system.
Speaking informally to a group of journalists at his official residence in Malabar Hill, the Chief Minister dismissed speculation about any proposal to divide Mumbai into two municipal corporations. He made it clear that Mumbai will continue to have a single civic body, and governance reforms—not structural bifurcation—will be the priority.
On the sensitive issue of illegal immigration, Fadnavis said the state government plans to intensify action against undocumented Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants after the elections. He revealed that advanced technological solutions are being explored, including an Artificial Intelligence-based tracking system being developed in coordination with IIT Mumbai and the Union Home Ministry. According to him, unchecked illegal migration poses a serious challenge to Mumbai’s law and order and must be addressed firmly.
Turning to the political landscape, Fadnavis expressed confidence that the ruling Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)—will dominate municipal councils across the state. He claimed the alliance is well-positioned to secure a majority in the BMC as well, paving the way for a “Hindu Marathi mayor.” However, he emphasised that high voter turnout would be critical to converting groundwork into electoral success.
The Chief Minister played down the political impact of any possible coming together of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, arguing that their influence is limited to a few urban pockets and lacks wider resonance. He maintained that development-focused governance, backed by the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continues to shape voter sentiment in Maharashtra.
Outlining a long-term urban roadmap, Fadnavis highlighted mega infrastructure projects such as the coastal road, Atal Setu, metro corridors, sea links, the Navi Mumbai airport, and future projects like the Wadhavan port and the Virar–Alibaug multimodal corridor. He said the proposed “Third Mumbai” in the metropolitan region would emerge as a massive economic hub, hosting data centres, Global Capability Centres, and international education facilities, creating large-scale employment opportunities.
Responding to questions on law enforcement and governance controversies, Fadnavis said the Special Investigation Team report concerning former top police officer Sanjay Pandey would be examined carefully, and appropriate action would follow if warranted. He also rejected allegations surrounding land allotments and denied claims about BJP leaders courting minority political figures, calling them deliberate attempts to spread misinformation during election season.
