In joint Saamana interview, Uddhav and Raj accuse Mahayuti govt of pushing Maharashtra towards danger

Speaking about the condition of Mumbai, Raj said that the city was being run by people who did not understand it because they never lived there. Many ministers and officials compare Mumbai with their own regions, where even basic facilities are lacking, he added. “When they see roads, water, electricity, and hospitals in Mumbai, they ask what the problem is. But Mumbai’s problems are overcrowding, pollution, traffic, and loss of open spaces. These cannot be understood without living here,” Raj explained, adding that cities are not just about buildings and infrastructure, but about daily life and people’s mental and physical well-being.

During the exchange, Raut said that Maharashtra’s “death warrant” was being signed by people from within the state itself. Raj agreed, saying decisions taken by those in power were weakening Maharashtra from within, pushing the state towards long-term damage.

Manjrekar highlighted the struggles of Mumbai’s middle class, saying families were trapped between rising costs and failing civic support, and pointed to missing footpaths, long commutes, overcrowded classrooms, and growing pressure on families.

Responding to concerns about education, Uddhav said major changes were made in Mumbai’s civic schools during his tenure, pointing out that virtual classrooms, online teaching and tablet-based learning were introduced early.

BMC schools, he said, now teach students in eight languages and offer SSC, CBSE and ICSE boards. Nearly 3.5 lakh students study in about 1,300 civic schools across the city. “For the first time, parents queued up for admission to civic schools. Studying in a BMC school should be a matter of pride,” he added.

On privatisation, Uddhav said his government stopped attempts to privatise public schools and hospitals, and alleged that in the last four years, this process had restarted. He cited examples from Vidarbha, including Chandrapur, where schools have been handed over to private managements. He also warned that even without political control of the BMC, public services could still be privatised through government orders.

‘No raids, no fear’

On the issue of unopposed elections and voters’ rights—Mahayuti candidates have been elected unopposed in 68 no-contest seats across municipal corporations in the state—Manjrekar said such developments deny voters their basic right to vote.

In response, Uddhav alleged that candidates were being forced to withdraw nominations and demanded that such elections be held again. He also questioned the independence of the Election Commission.

Addressing the drug menace, Raj said that drugs have spread across cities like Mumbai, Thane and Nashik and have reached schoolchildren. He blamed this on weak enforcement. “There are no regular raids and no fear,” he said, linking the spread of narcotics to the growing role of money in elections. Uddhav also questioned how those involved in major drug cases were repeatedly given clean chits and demanded clarity on those protecting the accused.