Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora on Wednesday said that the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections will be a defining moment for Mumbai and Maharashtra, as people are demanding a change from decades of mismanagement. Speaking after a key meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deora highlighted the government’s commitment to presenting a “positive agenda” before the citizens.
“A very important meeting was held under the leadership of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation is the largest municipal corporation in India. It is unfortunate that for the past 30 years, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction has used the Corporation only for the benefit of rich contractors,” Deora said.
He added that the misuse of civic funds and priorities had alienated ordinary citizens, who now seek transparency and efficiency. “Today, people want change; therefore, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections are very important—not just for Mumbai, but for Maharashtra and the entire country,” he stated.
Deora emphasized that during the meeting, which was attended by all senior officials and alliance representatives, Shinde’s message was clear: the ruling Mahayuti alliance—comprising the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)—will approach voters unitedly and focus on development-driven governance.
“His single message was that we have to go before the public with a positive agenda. As part of Mahayuti, uniting together, all our alliance partners will go among the people,” Deora said.
Political analysts view the BMC elections as a high-stakes contest, marking a direct face-off between the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray faction, with both camps vying to control the powerful civic body that manages Mumbai’s massive annual budget.