Raj Thackeray's MNS Threatens to Block Bihar Bhavan in Mumbai

The proposed construction of a grand Bihar Bhavan in Mumbai has triggered a political flashpoint, with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) emerging as its fiercest critic. Led by Raj Thackeray, the party has opposed the ₹314.20-crore project approved by the Bihar Cabinet, arguing that it undermines Marathi interests in the state’s capital.

The Bihar Bhavan, planned on 0.68 acres at Elphinstone Estate, is envisioned as a 30-storey, 69-metre-tall complex with 178 rooms and a 240-bed dormitory. It is primarily aimed at accommodating people from Bihar visiting Mumbai for work, official engagements, or medical treatment, particularly cancer patients seeking care at premier hospitals like Tata Memorial.

MNS Corporator Yashwant Killedar has threatened to block the project, questioning why Bihar would invest such a large sum in Mumbai instead of improving healthcare infrastructure back home. Framing the issue as one of local injustice, he accused the Maharashtra Government of prioritising migrants over farmers, youth, and residents facing economic hardship.

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The statements have drawn sharp condemnation from NDA leaders in Bihar, including the BJP and JDU, who have called the opposition unconstitutional and divisive. They argue that India’s federal structure allows states to build facilities anywhere in the country and note that several states, including Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, already operate similar bhavans in Mumbai.

Experts, however, suggest the controversy is driven more by political positioning than economics. Economist N.K. Chaudhary pointed out that such projects largely benefit the host city through local sourcing, employment, and increased economic activity, underscoring that the Bihar Bhavan could ultimately serve Mumbai’s interests as much as Bihar’s.

As Raj Thackeray seeks to reassert himself as the guardian of the “Marathi Manoos,” the Bihar Bhavan debate reflects a familiar but evolving fault line in Maharashtra politics—where development, migration, and identity continue to collide.

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