BMC Election 2026: Mumbai to choose between development and 'speed breaker' alliance

BMC Election 2026: Mumbai is considered not only the economic heart of Maharashtra but of all of India. It is a city of dreams for millions, also known as "Mumbai on the move," symbolizing its continuous progress.

How has Mumbai progressed under BJP-Mahayuti government?

However, the experience of the past few years has made one thing clear: since the BJP-Mahayuti government, led by Devendra Fadnavis, came to power, Mumbai has progressed rapidly in terms of development. Conversely, when the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) "experiment" under Uddhav Thackeray took place, the city's development slowed down and faced significant roadblocks. Today, once again, the same stagnation-inducing trend has arrived at the doorstep of this city of dreams.

During Devendra Fadnavis's tenure from 2014 to 2019, Mumbai embraced true modernity. Major projects like the Mumbai Metro network, the Coastal Road, and the Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu), which had existed only on paper for decades, were brought to fruition by Fadnavis at "rocket speed."

What happened during Thackeray's tenure?

In 2019, the Uddhav Thackeray government, which came to power through an unethical alliance with the Congress and the undivided NCP after betraying the BJP, derailed the development process. It is alleged that the Aarey car shed for Metro-3 was halted out of a vengeful desire to deny Devendra Fadnavis credit. This single arrogant decision increased the project cost by ₹10,000 crore, and the much-awaited commute for Mumbaikars was delayed by four years.

From water conservation projects to the metro, putting a stop to every public welfare project became the main policy of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray. While ordinary Mumbaikars were stuck for hours in potholes and traffic jams, orders to obstruct projects continued to be issued from 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence).

During the challenging lockdown period in Mumbai, when ordinary citizens were helpless, the 'Uddhav Bal Thackeray' faction and its close associates were embroiled in corruption allegations and indulged in a lavish lifestyle. During this same period, allegations of major scams, ranging from the 'Khichdi' scam to the 'body bag' scam, surfaced. The problems of the common people were never a priority for them; their only interest was in creating obstacles to projects to further their own political agenda.

What happened after the return of the BJP-Mahayuti combine to power?

In 2022, Mumbai breathed a sigh of relief with the return of the Mahayuti government to power in Maharashtra. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis removed all pending obstacles within days, allowing several projects to regain momentum.

Which projects have been undertaken by the BJP-Mahayuti government?

Atal Setu: After the Mahayuti government came to power, under the guidance of Fadnavis, Mumbaikars received a major gift in the form of the 'Atal Setu'. The Atal Setu, also known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), is the country's longest sea bridge, which was completed and opened to the public in record time under the Mahayuti government.

Coastal Road: Thanks to the strong will of the Mahayuti government, the journey from South Mumbai to Worli via the 'Coastal Road' is now completed in just a few minutes.

Metro and Bullet Train: The bullet train project, which was once criticized as an 'unwanted project', is now being worked on at a war footing. Along with this, new metro lines are continuously being added to serve the people of Mumbai, accelerating the development of the city's infrastructure.

Will a ‘speed breaker’ hit Maharashtra again?

In the 2024 assembly elections, the Mahayuti government, led by Devendra Fadnavis, was re-elected in Maharashtra. People are confident that Maharashtra's progress will not stop now. However, if the alliance that acted as a 'speed breaker' in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation gets another chance, Mumbai's development could certainly come to a halt. Beware! No more 'speed breakers'!
Uddhav Thackeray and his alliance partners' working style has been allegedly termed 'anti-development'. A warning has been issued that if this 'speed breaker' front comes back to power, crucial projects in Mumbai could be stalled again. Their personal ego, politics of commission, and self-interest could set the city back by twenty years.

To ensure that Mumbai's progress is not hampered and the lives of ordinary Mumbaikars do not become miserable, it is crucial to permanently stop such 'speed breaker' tendencies. The residents of Mumbai must consider whether they want 'rapid development' or a government that stalls important projects?