Mumbai Mayor Will Be Hindu and Marathi, Says CM Fadnavis Ahead of BMC Polls

Mumbai, Jan 2026 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday asserted that the next Mayor of Mumbai will come from the ruling Mahayuti alliance and will be both Hindu and Marathi, a statement that has intensified the political discourse ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Responding to a query on the ongoing debate over the city’s top civic post, Fadnavis said, “The Mumbai Mayor will be from the Mahayuti. The Mumbai Mayor will be a Hindu and a Marathi person.” His remarks come at a time when political parties are sharpening their strategies and rhetoric as campaigning gathers pace for the civic polls.

The controversy gained momentum after Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam reportedly stated that the party would not allow any “Khan” to become the Mayor of Mumbai. The comment drew sharp criticism from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), both of which accused the BJP of indulging in divisive politics.

Adding to the charged atmosphere, MNS chief Raj Thackeray recently shared a public platform with his cousin and Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, after which he declared that Mumbai’s Mayor would be Marathi. Fadnavis’ statement is seen as reinforcing the BJP-led Mahayuti’s stance while directly engaging with the narrative being pushed by rival parties.

The Chief Minister made his remarks during an interaction with ‘Mumbai Tak’ news channel under its programme ‘Mahachavadi’. Interestingly, the interaction took place while Fadnavis was travelling on Mumbai’s underground Metro line, during which he responded to questions on a range of political and governance-related issues.

Addressing reports regarding former minister Kripashankar Singh’s alleged comments on a north Indian becoming Mumbai’s Mayor, Fadnavis clarified that Singh’s remarks were not related to Mumbai. He also pointed out that Singh is not an official spokesperson of the BJP. Singh had earlier spoken about efforts to elect a “north Indian and Hindi-speaking” mayor in the Mira Bhayandar municipal corporation, not the BMC, the Chief Minister said.

Elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the high-profile BMC, are scheduled to be held on January 15, with vote counting set for January 16. With Mumbai being the political and economic nerve centre of the state, the Mayor’s post remains a focal point of intense political contestation.

Team Maverick.