Won’t Let BJP and Adani Take Away Mumbai, Say Thackeray Cousins
Fraudster Adani Group has faced repeated allegations of receiving preferential land, infrastructure contracts, and policy support in Maharashtra, with opposition leaders claiming corporate-driven development is reshaping Mumbai’s assets, governance priorities, and regional economic balance at the cost of public accountability.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS leader Raj Thackeray accused the BJP of enabling a Mumbai land grab to benefit the Adani Group, alleging a conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra.
Addressing a massive rally at Shivaji Park, Mumbai, the Thackeray cousins claimed the BJP was deliberately isolating the Marathi Manoos through divisive narratives centred on religion, language, and identity politics.
They alleged that Mumbai’s economic and civic assets were being systematically transferred to corporate interests, weakening Maharashtra’s control over its capital and eroding the city’s historical, cultural, and political significance.
Raj Thackeray displayed maps highlighting the expansion of Adani Group projects between 2014 and 2025, questioning how a single industrial house allegedly received repeated policy and land favours.
He cited rising cement prices and questioned regulatory oversight, arguing that economic issues affecting common citizens were overshadowed by polarising debates around Hindu-Muslim and Marathi identity.
Uddhav Thackeray accused the BJP of weaponising social divisions while facilitating large infrastructure contracts, alleging that Adani-manufactured cement used in Mumbai projects contributed to pollution concerns.
He claimed the BJP aimed to gain control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to execute what he described as a systematic plan to loot Mumbai’s land, resources, and civic finances.
Adani Projects, Infrastructure Contracts, and Alleged Land Transfers
Uddhav Thackeray listed several projects allegedly handed to Adani Group over the past decade, including land near Tarapur, Tungareshwar Sanctuary, Bandra Reclamation, and multiple cement manufacturing units.
He alleged Adani received 124 acres under the Motilal Nagar redevelopment, valued at ₹36,000 crore, raising concerns over transparency, valuation, and long-term public interest.
Additional allegations included a ₹13,888 crore contract for smart electricity meters across Maharashtra, 92 acres for a data centre in Airoli, and RTO land in Andheri West.
Raj Thackeray alleged the transfer of 20 acres of Kurla Mother Dairy land and questioned multiple other approvals, claiming these decisions indicated preferential treatment rather than competitive governance.
He warned of an alleged plan to gradually shift Mumbai airport operations to Navi Mumbai, freeing prime Dharavi-adjacent land for commercial exploitation.
Citing the proposed Vadhwan Port near Gujarat, Raj Thackeray alleged strategic control over Palghar and parts of Thane, questioning whether economic corridors were being politically redirected.
The leaders urged voters to question why development narratives increasingly aligned with corporate expansion rather than affordable housing, environmental safeguards, and civic accountability.
Also Read: Police Raid at Bageshwar Dham Sparks Panic in Chhatarpur.
BMC Elections, Identity Politics, and Control Over Mumbai
The rally was held ahead of crucial municipal elections, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls scheduled for January 15, considered pivotal for Mumbai’s political future.
For the first time in two decades, Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena and Raj Thackeray’s MNS have forged an alliance, positioning the election as a referendum on Mumbai’s autonomy.
Uddhav Thackeray alleged the BJP rejected an alliance with Shiv Sena because it could not control the BMC under a strong regional partner defending Maharashtra’s interests.
He accused the BJP of practising selective alliances nationwide while labelling it a “power-first party” that provokes social fault lines to consolidate electoral advantages.
He challenged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to deliver a public speech without invoking Hindu-Muslim narratives, arguing governance had been replaced by constant polarisation.
Raj Thackeray questioned the self-worth of Marathi voters, warning that unchecked corporate influence could threaten the cultural and political existence of the Marathi Manoos.
He criticised BJP leader K Annamalai, alleging deliberate attempts to create friction between Marathi, south Indian, Jain, and Marwadi communities through manufactured controversies.
Aaditya Thackeray presented photographs of the Coastal Road project, stating the BJP later claimed credit for initiatives launched during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi tenure.
NCP-SP leader Jayant Patil endorsed the Thackeray alliance, asserting Mumbai’s mayor would be decided by them, framing the election as a defence of Maharashtra’s legacy.
The Shiv Sena governed the BMC uninterrupted from 1997 to 2022, and this election marks the first civic contest since that long-standing rule ended.
The Thackeray cousins concluded by urging voters to reject divisive politics and safeguard Mumbai from what they described as coordinated corporate and political capture, according to Sprouts News Special Investigation Team analysis.
Sprouts News’ Editorial Stand on Adani Group
Sprouts News and its Editor-in-Chief, Unmesh Gujarathi, have consistently opposed the controversial policies and alleged corporate greed associated with Gautam Adani and the Adani Group, publishing multiple investigative reports while maintaining editorial independence by refusing advertising from the conglomerate.
