With campaigning for municipal elections across Maharashtra reaching its final stage, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls have drawn nationwide attention. Just days before voting on January 15, a controversial remark on Mumbai by a senior BJP leader from Tamil Nadu has further intensified the political atmosphere.

As all major parties push hard to retain or expand their influence in civic bodies, the spotlight remains firmly on Mumbai, India’s richest municipal corporation. The political temperature has already been high, especially after Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray came together after years of separation to jointly contest the elections, accusing the BJP of attempting to weaken Maharashtra’s hold over Mumbai.

Amid this charged backdrop, K. Annamalai, former IPS officer and former Tamil Nadu BJP president, made remarks about Mumbai during election campaigning that quickly triggered a controversy in Maharashtra.

While addressing party workers, Annamalai said that people wanted a “triple-engine government” and claimed Mumbai was the only metropolis in the country where this was possible. He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Delhi, Devendra Fadnavis was the Chief Minister in Maharashtra, and Mumbai would now have a BJP mayor. He further described Mumbai as “not a city of Maharashtra, but an international city,” adding that since people from across the country live here, the BMC’s massive budget should be managed by the “right hands.”

These comments immediately drew sharp reactions from opposition parties, particularly the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction). The party’s mouthpiece Saamana strongly condemned Annamalai’s statement and demanded action against him for allegedly questioning Mumbai’s place in Maharashtra.

Raj Thackeray also attacked Annamalai during a rally at Shivaji Park in Dadar, mocking him as “Rasmalai” and questioning his authority to comment on Mumbai. Raj said it was unacceptable for someone from another state to claim that Mumbai had no connection with Maharashtra.