Two days before the municipal corporation elections in the state, Maharashtra Deputy CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde sits down for a chat with The Indian Express to discuss the alliance of the Thackeray cousins that is the primary challenge to the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Mumbai, the controversy triggered by BJP leader Annamalai’s remarks about the city, his party’s equations with the BJP after a period of turbulence, and the government’s governance track record. Mumbai, Shinde insists, will have a Marathi Mayor from the Mahayuti.
Excerpts:
* Does the alliance between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray — they drew a large crowd at their recent joint rally — present a big challenge?
No, there is no challenge. Having a huge crowd at a public meeting does not automatically mean traction or response. Raj Thackeray’s rallies have always drawn a large audience because he speaks well and is a good orator. Many people attend his rallies only to listen to his speeches. Converting that crowd into votes is important and people vote for development and constructive work.
Over the past three-and-a-half years, people have seen how rapidly we are working in Mumbai. The Metro network is expanding, cement concrete roads are being constructed, and the Coastal Road has started. So, this alliance is not a challenge for the Mahayuti or me. In fact, it is a survival fight for them (Thackerays).
* There is a question about credit for these projects. Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray say the Coastal Road was constructed during their tenure in the BMC and not the Mahayuti.
The Coastal Road project was started only after the BJP and Shiv Sena governments came to power at the Centre and in Maharashtra. The BMC was the implementing agency and executed the project.
Despite the project being approved in the 1990s, it did not start earlier because permissions from the state government and the Centre were required. When Devendra Fadnavis came to power in 2014, he expedited the permissions, ensured funds were approved, and obtained the necessary approvals from the Centre.
If it could have been started earlier, why did the BMC not do it? These claims are being made only to distract people and have no standing. Several projects were stalled during the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s tenure. When we returned to power in 2022, and when I was the CM, I restarted all of them.
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* Uddhav and Raj Thackeray are campaigning on the issue of Marathi identity, raising concerns that Mumbai will be snatched from Maharashtra …
Every time there is an election, they raise the Marathi issue and once elections are over, they place it in cold storage. For them, Marathi identity is an issue of convenience. They use it when it suits them and forget it once its purpose is over. They use it to make people emotional and to gather votes. They have created the narrative that Mumbai will be separated from Maharashtra.
I want to say this very clearly. No one can separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. Mumbai is not a cake to be cut into pieces and separated. This is the stand of the Shiv Sena.
* Haven’t remarks by BJP leaders, such as Annamalai’s comments on Mumbai and Kripa Shankar Singh’s statement about electing a north Indian mayor, helped this narrative of Marathi sentiments being hurt?
Kripa Shankar Singh is not the BJP. The same applies to Annamalai. I have a clear stand on what Annamalai said (last week, he called for the Centre, Maharashtra, and the BMC to align their vision for Mumbai, calling it an international city). It was wrong and he should not have said it. I have clearly conveyed this to the BJP leadership, and they are looking into the matter. This should not have happened.
* What would you like to say about what happened in Ambernath and statements made by BJP leaders like Ganesh Naik? In corporations like Navi Mumbai, you are competing against each other.
These are local body elections and they are meant for party workers. Where there is no possibility of an alliance at the local level, we mutually decide to have a friendly contest for that particular seat or corporation. Whenever such issues arise, I immediately speak to the CM and we resolve them through discussions.
As far as statements are concerned, a leader speaking does not mean the party is speaking (against me). I don’t need to respond in the same language as Ganesh Naik. I conveyed the issue to the CM and our ministers from our party also did the same. As per the BJP’s rules and policies, they will look into the matter.
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* But is everything alright between the Sena and the BJP? Before the local body polls began, there was visible friction between the parties, including Cabinet meeting boycotts and allegations of poaching.
There is a clear consensus between the BJP, the Shiv Sena, and the NCP that there should be no poaching of leaders within the alliance. Through discussion, we will resolve everything. There is continuous coordination between the CM and me whenever such issues arise. We are nationally allied based on ideology. But issues do arise at the local level and get resolved through sustained coordination.
* The undivided Sena first won the Mumbai Mayor’s post over 25 years ago and held it since then. Will your party regain the Mayor’s post if the Mahayuti wins the BMC polls?
A Marathi Mayor from the Mahayuti will be installed in Mumbai.
* But will you insist on having a Sena Mayor?
Our first target is winning the polls. All these decisions will be taken after that.
* You have accused your opponents of running a narrative against industrialists. What do you mean by that?
When they needed power, they remembered industrialists. Now they attack them for political convenience. Who handed over the Dharavi redevelopment project and the Navi Mumbai airport work to the Adani Group when they were in power? Who gave away open grounds and land parcels in Mumbai? Who went to meet them at Kalanagar two years ago? You attack industrialists in public but invite them home for dinner. Your children dance at their weddings. This double standard is clear to everyone.
* You have accused the Uddhav Thackeray government of corruption and stalling projects …
During the Covid-19 pandemic, there were irregularities in food supply, body bags, Covid centres, silt contracts, and even road works. Marathi contractors were blacklisted. Instead of hoardings saying, ‘We delivered’, they should put up hoardings saying, ‘We indulged in corruption’. The MVA government acted as a speed-breaker. They stalled projects like Metro Line 3, which led costs to rise by Rs 10,000 crore.
* But what has the Mahayuti done for Mumbai?
We don’t indulge in idle talk. We granted occupancy certificates to 20,000 buildings, decided there should be a pagdi-free Mumbai (an old tenancy system), restarted stalled redevelopment projects in funnel zones, and approved 17 cluster development projects.
The Mahayuti has given houses to 10,000–12,000 mill workers and will give homes to one lakh more. We don’t fill our own homes; we build houses for people.
Eknath Shinde-led Sena considers Thane its traditional stronghold, even as BJP is unwilling to yield to the demand (Express photo) 
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