Mumbai’s 'Marathi manoos' Feels Left Behind After 25 Years of Shiv Sena Rule

Mumbai: Once the heartland of the Marathi ‘manush’, Mumbai today faces uncomfortable questions about whether that very identity has thrived under decades of Shiv Sena rule.

For roughly 25 to 30 years, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was dominated by Shiv Sena under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, shaping the city’s political and economic direction. But many citizens and analysts now argue that while the skyline changed with gleaming glass towers replacing mill chimneys, the ground reality for the Marathi-speaking community deteriorated.

From Mill Towns to Glass Towers,  But at What Cost?

Neighborhoods once pulsating with Marathi working-class life, like Girgaon, Lalbaug, and Shivdi, transformed into urban corporate hubs. Yet, critics say that development often came at the expense of the local Marathi resident, displacing long-time inhabitants to far-off suburbs such as Virar, Badlapur, and Kasara. Promises during redevelopment that “Marathi locals will find homes here” went unfulfilled, say residents.

Economic Empowerment: A Missing Link?

The BMC now manages an annual budget that runs into tens of thousands of crores, but questions are being raised about how much of that actually benefited Marathi entrepreneurs or professionals. Observers note that major contracts in infrastructure, roads, and civic services rarely reflect Marathi participation at senior levels, raising concerns about missed opportunities for local economic empowerment.

Is the 'Marathi Identity' Still Central to Politics?

The Shiv Sena’s long-standing slogan has been that "Mumbai belongs to Marathi manoos (man)." But some voters now question whether that sentiment translated into real opportunities. 

Though Shiv Sena leveraged emotional appeals around Marathi pride and identity, detractors argue that such slogans have not translated into tangible gains.

Education too is a sore point. Marathi schools have declined in numbers, while private English-medium institutions have expanded. Many see this as symbolic of shifting priorities away from Marathi language and culture.

Daily commutes of three to five hours from distant suburbs to central Mumbai are common for Marathi workers who feel shut out of housing closer to job centres. 

Political Implications Ahead of BMC Elections?

With municipal elections nearing, the debate over Marathi representation and rights has become a key political battleground. Voters once loyal to Shiv Sena are now openly demanding more concrete commitments on housing, jobs, and civic welfare for the Marathi community, issues that could reshape the city’s electoral map.

As Mumbai evolves into a global metropolis, the pressing question remains: Can political leaders translate Marathi identity into real opportunities for its people, or will the Marathi ‘manush’ increasingly find itself on the margins of the city it helped build?