BMC Election Results: BJP MP Takes 'rasmalai' Jibe At Raj Thackeray As Saffron Party Sweeps Mumbai

Mumbai: The Thackeray family's long-held dominance over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has a budget larger than some Indian states, is about to come crashing down. The BMC has been crucial to the Thackeray family's political relevance. This is why the challenge posed by the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra forced Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to come together for the BMC elections after many years. 

Why is the BJP taking ‘rasmalai’ jibe at Raj Thackeray?

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP PC Mohan on Friday took a "rajmalai" jibe at Raj Thackeray. The MP shared photos of the Indian sweet dish on social media.

"Ordered some rasmalai. #BMCResults," he wrote in the post. 

The tweet was a direct jibe at Raj Thakeray, who had referred to the sweet dish while hurling an insult at BJP MP K Annamalai last week.

What had Raj Thackeray said?

While campaigning in Mumbai for the BMC elections, Annamalai had said the city didn't belong to Maharashtra alone as it was an international city. The remarks triggered a sharp response from MNS chief Raj Thackeray at a joint rally by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS in Mumbai. 

Raj Thackeray took a swipe at Annamalai, mocking him as ‘rasmalai’ and also insulted the BJP leader from Tamil Nadu with a derogatory used to mock people from southern India.

Ordered some rasmalai. #BMCResults pic.twitter.com/YXxi9J5XH7

— P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) January 16, 2026

How did the controversy pan out?

To reach out to South Indian voters, especially those from Tamil Nadu, the BJP fielded its popular leader and former IPS officer K. Annamalai from Chennai in the BMC election campaign. The results show that the ruling alliance achieved considerable success in areas with a strong South Indian presence, such as Sion and Dharavi, where he campaigned for the BJP. Interestingly, Annamalai was a target of Raj Thackeray's attacks.

Moreover, a major controversy erupted during the election campaign involving Annamalai. He had stated that "Bombay is not a city of Maharashtra, but an international city." He argued that if the BJP formed the government in the BMC, a triple-engine government would ensure better administration of Mumbai. MNS chief Raj Thackeray reacted sharply in his characteristic style, saying, "A 'Rasmalai' has come from Tamil Nadu. What is your connection to this place?" Later, he was also called a "beggar" in Saamana, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena (UBT).

What is the fate of the Thackeray dynasty?

Some analysts are linking the BJP alliance's significant victory in this election to the political future of the Thackeray family. In fact, this election result has dealt a blow to the Thackeray family in the very place where they began their political journey.

During the voting for the 227 seats of the BMC on Thursday, a survey was conducted to determine which parties received the most votes and which parties—Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and NCP (Sharad Pawar)—garnered the most support. The results of this survey, when viewed in context, show that the politics of the Uddhav and Raj Thackeray families ultimately led to their downfall in their own stronghold.

Who have the Marathi voters supported?

According to the Axis My India survey, Shiv Sena (UBT) and its allies, who champion the cause of the 'Marathi Manoos' (Marathi people), received the highest percentage of votes from this community. 49% of Marathi voters supported them, while the BJP and its allies received votes from 30% of Marathi voters. The Congress and its allies managed to attract only 8% of Marathi voters. Besides the Marathi community, the Thackeray brothers received the most support from Muslims, securing 28% of the Muslim vote. However, Congress Plus is ahead in this race with 41% of the Muslim vote, while BJP Plus received only 12% of the Muslim vote.

Who have the North and South Indian voters chosen?

However, North Indian and South Indian voters overwhelmingly supported BJP Plus. BJP Plus received 68% of the North Indian vote and 61% of the South Indian vote. However, Shiv Sena (UBT) received only 19% of the North Indian and 21% of the South Indian votes. The Congress party secured 2% and 8% of these votes respectively. This is where the Thackeray brothers' political fortunes took a nosedive. Raj Thackeray is notorious for his hateful statements against North Indians, while the Thackeray family's politics itself began with opposition to South Indians.

What was the role of the South Indian voters?

Uddhav Thackeray's father, Bal Thackeray, left a deep impression on the Marathi community by championing their cause. In 1966, he founded the Shiv Sena, primarily to counter the growing influence of South Indians in Mumbai. His slogan, "Lift the lungi, save the pungi," proved quite effective. Tamils were his main target. Later, the number of North Indians began to increase significantly compared to South Indians. However, a substantial South Indian population still resides in Mumbai, and the survey suggests that they played a major role in derailing the Thackeray families' political ambitions.