Mumbai’s municipal election campaigns have taken a sharp turn into regional politics, with leaders from Maharashtra targeting BJP leader K Annamalai of Tamil Nadu over his remarks describing Mumbai as a “global city,” rather than the city of Maharashtra alone. The controversy highlights how identity politics continues to shape local electoral narratives in India’s financial capital.

Annamalai, a former IPS officer and a prominent BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, came under criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday. Speaking to reporters, Aaditya Thackeray accused Annamalai and his party of disrespecting Maharashtra and Mumbai. “Annamalai is the face of the BJP, which is ‘zero’. He could not win there (in Tamil Nadu) and save his own deposit,” he said, referring to the party’s poor performance in recent Tamil Nadu elections.

Thackeray, whose father Uddhav Thackeray and uncle Raj Thackeray have reunited to contest the Mumbai polls, also praised Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, saying, “CM Stalin has been bringing forward Tamil Nadu at such a speed, while these people are only fighting, hurling abuses.”

Annamalai Stands by Statement

Annamalai defended his remarks made at a campaign rally in Dharavi for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, asserting that calling Mumbai an international city does not undermine Maharashtra or Marathi pride. “If I say Kamaraj, one of India’s greatest leaders, is Tamil, does that make him any less of an Indian? If I say Mumbai is a world-class city, does that mean Maharashtrians didn’t build it?” he asked rhetorically.

The BJP leader’s comments appear to have triggered a strong response from Raj Thackeray, head of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), who revived an old controversial Shiv Sena slogan from the 1960s and ’70s, “Hatao lungi bajao pungi”, targeting Tamil residents in Mumbai. Raj Thackeray also mocked Annamalai by twisting his name, calling him “one rasmalai from Tamil Nadu” and questioning his connection to the city.

Annamalai, however, dismissed these attacks, saying, “Who are Aditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to threaten me? I am proud to be a farmer’s son. They have organised meetings just to abuse me. I don’t know whether I have become that important.”

Tamil Population in Mumbai

The Tamil-speaking community in Mumbai is concentrated in select areas and constitutes an estimated 4% of the city’s voters, according to media reports. A significant portion of this population resides in slum areas such as Dharavi, which has been a BJP campaign focus in the current municipal elections. Despite the BJP’s weak base in Tamil Nadu, it does have a Tamil-origin MLA in Maharashtra, R Tamil Selvan, representing the Sion-Koliwada constituency in Mumbai.

Political Implications

The episode underscores the continuing regional identity politics in Mumbai, where parties like Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT), and MNS often invoke Marathi pride to consolidate local support. By targeting Annamalai, both Thackerays have sought to project themselves as defenders of Marathi identity while simultaneously discrediting the BJP’s campaign in the city.

The Mumbai municipal elections are part of a larger polling exercise across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including Pune and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Voting is scheduled for January 15, with counting on January 16. While the controversy is local, it also resonates with Tamil Nadu, which is gearing up for its assembly elections later this year.

Regional Politics Meets Local Governance

The exchange between Annamalai and the Thackerays illustrates how inter-state politics can influence local elections in metropolitan cities like Mumbai. It also reflects the enduring tension between Maharashtra-based parties advocating regional identity and national parties like the BJP seeking to appeal to a broader electorate, including migrant communities from states like Tamil Nadu.

The debate over Annamalai’s remarks and the Thackerays’ response has also sparked discussions on social media, where supporters and critics from both communities have weighed in, further intensifying election rhetoric. For the BJP, the episode could be both a challenge and an opportunity to mobilize the Tamil diaspora in Mumbai, while for the Thackerays, it reinforces their narrative as protectors of Marathi interests.

As the city heads to the polls, the intersection of regional pride, local governance, and national party politics is likely to remain a central theme, making these elections a high-stakes contest not just for seats, but also for political messaging and identity-based narratives in Mumbai.