Mumbai: The BJP-led Mahayuti ruling alliance in Maharashtra on Sunday released its manifesto for the Mumbai civic polls, focusing on the interests of the Marathi manoos, strengthening urban infrastructure, and offering interest-free loans to women along with a 50 percent concession on bus fares.
With just a few days to go for the polls, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance also promised the preservation of the Marathi language and culture, commitment to safety, slum redevelopment, and the deportation of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas living illegally in the city.
The Mahayauti’s focus on the Marathi manoos and the Maratha culture comes in the backdrop of Thackeray brothers being relentless in their criticism of the state government for allegedly imposing Hindi and ignoring Marathi.
Mahayuti’s manifesto also talks about building a Marathi Kala Kendra, and introducing the history of Marathi and Samyukta Maharashtra in the school syllabus.
The manifesto also promised the redevelopment of houses for Marathi manoos, giving Marathas new houses in Mumbai itself, and cluster redevelopment of chawls.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled the manifesto along with his deputy Eknath Shinde, the two leaders who have ruled Maharashtra for the past three-and-a-half years.
The Mahayuti has also focused on its prime agenda of the removal of Bangladeshi and Rohingyas living illegally in Mumbai, deploying Artificial Intelligence to aid the entire process.
“We are developing an AI tool to identify the Bangladeshi. We have been working on this for the past three months and have achieved 60 percent reliability. Soon, we will be able to identify and deport the Bangladeshis from Mumbai,” said CM Fadnavis.
Shinde added, “In 3.5 years, we have worked in Mumbai, and this work is in front of you. This is for the well-being of Mumbai’s Marathi people and the protection of the Marathi language and Marathi culture.”
He also promised a ‘pagdi-free Mumbai’. “The core Mumbaikar has gone out of Mumbai. Who is responsible for that? We will bring them back.”
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are scheduled to be held on 15 January, with vote counting and results expected on 16 January. The election will cover all 227 wards of the city.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS leader Raj Thackeray, who have come together after years of rivalry, released their joint manifesto earlier this month.
The Mahayuti manifesto also targeted Gen Z by promising them internship programmes, and Mumbai Digital Sakhi to train women in AI and coding courses.
To improve transportation, the Mahayuti promised to expand the water transport network in the MMR region from the existing 85 nautical miles to at least 200 nautical miles, develop 21 jetties, and introduce water taxi services connecting the Gateway of India with Navi Mumbai airport and other key routes.
They also promised to increase the number of BEST buses from 5,000 to 10,000, with all the additions being electric ones.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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