Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray ignited a fresh political controversy by derisively referring to BJP leader K Annamalai as “rasmalai” while fiercely challenging his authority to speak on Mumbai’s status. Thackeray accused Annamalai of claiming that Bombay has no connection to Maharashtra and is not a city of the state, remarks that he said were deeply offensive to Marathi pride. He invoked the late Bal Thackeray’s famous slogan “hatao lungi bajao pungi” to underscore his rejection of outsiders meddling in Maharashtra’s affairs.

The row traces back to Annamalai’s reported statement describing Bombay as an international city rather than a Maharashtra city. This observation drew sharp criticism from opposition figures, who interpreted it as an attempt to detach Mumbai from its Marathi identity. Thackeray seized on the comment to allege a broader BJP conspiracy aimed at weakening Maharashtra’s claim over its capital and targeting the Marathi community.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis swiftly defended Annamalai, asserting that the former Tamil Nadu BJP chief’s words had been distorted and exaggerated for political gain. Fadnavis clarified that Annamalai never intended to imply Mumbai is separate from Maharashtra, but rather emphasized its cosmopolitan character as a city belonging to all residents. He attributed any perceived misstep to Annamalai’s limited proficiency in Hindi, noting that he occasionally uses “Bombay” instead of “Mumbai” unintentionally.

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Fadnavis further argued that such statements deserve no prolonged attention, comparing the Bombay-Chennai naming issue to how people still refer to Madras out of habit. He maintained that Annamalai, neither a Maharashtra native nor a national BJP office-bearer, has been given undue importance, and the controversy should be laid to rest without further escalation.

Raj Thackeray, however, remained unyielding, linking Annamalai’s remark to an alleged pattern among senior BJP leaders seeking to sever Mumbai from Maharashtra. He vowed continued resistance, recalling the 106 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Mumbai’s inclusion in the state during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. Thackeray stressed the critical importance of upcoming BMC elections, urging citizens to stay vigilant and actively participate to safeguard Marathi interests and prevent external control over the city’s future.

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