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Mumbai: A campaign remark by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai that “Mumbai is an international city, not a city of Maharashtra” has ignited a fierce political controversy in Maharashtra, drawing sharp reactions from across the state’s political spectrum and reviving historical sentiments around regional identity.
The statement was made during Annamalai’s campaign for the upcoming Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections, scheduled for January 15. It quickly drew condemnation, most notably from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), whose MP Sanjay Raut demanded Annamalai’s arrest for “insulting Marathi pride and the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.”
Political Backlash and Demand for Clarification
Sanjay Raut questioned the silence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, asking, “If Mumbai does not belong to Maharashtra, then whose is it?” He called for an FIR to be registered against Annamalai. Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray also demanded that the BJP immediately clarify its official stance on Mumbai’s status.
In a surprising show of unity, Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, shared a stage at a rally where Raj Thackeray launched a pointed counter-attack. He questioned Annamalai’s connection to Mumbai, asking, “What connection do you, who came here from Tamil Nadu, have with this land?” His remarks, however, were criticized as being demeaning toward the Tamil community.
Annamalai’s Clarification and BJP’s Response
Annamalai later clarified that his comment was intended to honor Maharashtrians for transforming Mumbai into a global metropolis, not to deny its Marathi identity. However, the damage was done. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in an interview with a Marathi channel, sought to distance the party from the remark, stating that Annamalai had been “sidelined” by the BJP and that his poor Hindi and lack of understanding meant his statements should not be taken seriously.
Annamalai Challenge
“For saying Mumbai is an international city, Shiv Sena’s party mouthpiece Saamana wrote that my leg should be cut off. Raj Thackeray even held a rally in Mumbai and abused me by name. I am not someone who will be intimidated by such threats. I am coming to Mumbai. If you can, try cutting off my leg," Annamalai throws an open challenge to the Thackeray family.
aHistorical Context and Electoral Implications
The controversy taps into deep-seated sentiments dating back to the Samyukta Maharashtra movement of the 1960s, which ensured Mumbai remained part of Maharashtra and not Gujarat. With Mumbai being a migrant-rich city, the issue of “sons of the soil” often surfaces during elections. The current flare-up highlights the delicate balance of regional pride and cosmopolitan identity as the city approaches a high-stakes civic poll for 227 seats.
