Mumbai – In the lead-up to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alliance unveiled its joint manifesto on Sunday, promising a range of welfare and civic initiatives aimed at Mumbai voters. The document, titled “Vachan Nama, Shabd Thackerencha,” emphasizes social welfare, affordable housing, women-centric schemes, and infrastructural development, signaling the alliance’s focus on key voter segments across the metropolis.

The manifesto was released at the Shiv Sena Bhawan in Mumbai, a venue that holds historical significance for the MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who returned there after nearly two decades. The cover prominently features Shiv Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray, alongside cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, underscoring the familial and ideological continuity of the parties’ political narrative. Although the alliance includes the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), no senior leader from the Sharad Pawar-led party was present at the press event, highlighting the prominence of the Shiv Sena-MNS partnership in the campaign.

Women-Centric Welfare Initiatives

The manifesto strongly targets women voters, particularly those engaged in domestic work and the city’s fishing community, also known as the Koli community. A monthly allowance of ₹1,500 has been promised to house helps and women vendors in this sector under a scheme termed “Swabhiman Nidhi.” The initiative is similar to the existing Mahayuti government’s Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides financial support to eligible women between the ages of 21 and 65.

In addition, the alliance has proposed improvements in women’s sanitation infrastructure, including the construction of clean and safe public restrooms along major roads in the city. These measures aim to address long-standing concerns about accessibility, hygiene, and public safety for women in urban Mumbai.

Affordable Housing and Land Policies

Housing and urban development form another major pillar of the alliance’s manifesto. The parties have committed to ensuring that Mumbai’s land is primarily used to house its residents, promising affordable housing options for employees of the BMC, government workers, BEST employees, and mill workers. According to the manifesto, the BMC will establish its own housing authority and construct one lakh affordable housing units over the next five years.

To further support residents, the alliance has proposed a property tax waiver for homes up to 700 square feet and rules mandating one dedicated parking slot for every flat in redeveloped buildings. These promises reflect the alliance’s strategy to appeal to middle-class voters and those affected by urban redevelopment and rising housing costs.

Energy, Transport, and Public Utilities

The manifesto promises 100 units of free electricity for residential use through the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST). While the initiative aims to ease the burden of rising energy costs, it remains unclear whether this benefit will be extended to residents across the entire city or only to those in areas directly supplied by BEST. The alliance has also pledged to lower the minimum bus fare from ₹10 to ₹5 and to introduce new buses and routes, addressing concerns over public transport accessibility and affordability.

Health and Education Initiatives

Healthcare and education reforms feature prominently in the manifesto. The alliance has promised to establish five new medical colleges within civic-run hospitals to strengthen the public healthcare system, alongside a super-specialty cancer hospital for the city. Plans are also underway to launch rapid bike medical assistance services for faster emergency response in congested areas.

In the education sector, the alliance proposes the creation of ‘Mumbai Public Schools’ operated by the BMC, offering classes from junior kindergarten to Class 12. Creches will be established in every assembly segment to provide care for children of working parents, while the manifesto also includes measures to improve school infrastructure and access to quality education.

Livelihood and Employment Support

Financial support for youth and gig workers is another key feature of the manifesto. The alliance promises assistance ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹1 lakh for self-employment initiatives and an interest-free loan of ₹25,000 for gig workers, aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and reducing financial vulnerability among informal sector workers.

Nutrition and Welfare Programs

The Shiv Sena-MNS alliance also committed to a meal scheme reminiscent of the Shiv Bhojan Thali, ensuring that residents can access breakfast and lunch at highly subsidized rates of ₹10. Such initiatives seek to provide immediate relief for low-income households while reinforcing the alliance’s focus on social welfare.

Urban Infrastructure and Public Amenities

The manifesto details an ambitious program of urban development initiatives, including the creation of pet parks, clinics, ambulances, and crematoriums to enhance public amenities across the city. These measures aim to address the broader quality-of-life concerns of Mumbai’s residents, from recreational facilities to critical civic services.

Political and Electoral Context

Voting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will be held on January 15, along with elections for 28 other civic bodies across Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance appears to be focusing on a dual strategy: consolidating its traditional voter base while reaching out to marginalized groups, women, and working-class households with welfare-focused promises. By emphasizing free electricity, property tax waivers, affordable housing, and women-centric schemes, the alliance seeks to present itself as a champion of social welfare in contrast to its competitors.

While the manifesto contains ambitious pledges, challenges remain in terms of implementation and fiscal feasibility, particularly regarding subsidies for electricity and housing, and large-scale public infrastructure projects. Questions around funding, logistics, and coverage for initiatives like the free power scheme and rapid bike medical assistance will likely emerge as key points of debate in the coming weeks.

Conclusion

The “Vachan Nama, Shabd Thackerencha” manifesto signals a clear attempt by the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance to blend populist welfare measures with urban development promises. By targeting women, workers, youth, and lower-income residents, the alliance aims to consolidate support ahead of the BMC elections, while emphasizing the familial legacy of the Thackerays and their historical role in Mumbai’s politics.

Promises ranging from free electricity, allowances for domestic helps and women vendors, property tax waivers, affordable housing, and subsidized meals, to healthcare and education reforms, reflect a comprehensive approach to urban governance. However, with implementation challenges looming large, the success of these pledges will ultimately depend on the alliance’s ability to translate electoral promises into tangible outcomes for Mumbai’s residents.

As the city prepares to head to the polls, the manifesto positions the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance as a welfare-oriented alternative, aiming to appeal to a broad cross-section of voters, from working-class households and women to youth and public-sector employees, all while seeking to strengthen their political foothold in India’s largest civic body.