Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), warning that if the ruling party gains control of major municipal corporations in the state, the "Marathi manoos" will be rendered powerless. In a joint interview with his cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, published in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana on January 8, 2026, Raj Thackeray alleged that forces seeking to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra are currently in power at both the Centre and the state level. The interview, conducted by Sanjay Raut and filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, comes ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15.

Raj Thackeray claimed that migrants from other states are not merely arriving for livelihood opportunities but are actively forming their own political constituencies, reviving what he described as an "old wound" from the Samyukta Maharashtra movement era. He drew parallels to the historical period when Gujarat sought control over Mumbai, asserting that similar efforts persist today. "Those who want to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra are in power in the Centre as well as the state," he stated, directly targeting the BJP. He emphasized the critical need to control key civic bodies in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Mira-Bhayandar, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to safeguard Marathi interests and set boundaries on such developments.

Uddhav Thackeray, in the same interview, criticized the BJP-led state government for promoting unplanned development that results in destruction rather than genuine progress. He accused the administration of lacking direction and prioritizing contractors over the welfare of Mumbai's residents. "They only work for contractors," he charged, adding that despite many leaders being Marathi or from Maharashtra, they remain disconnected from the common people. The Sena (UBT) chief highlighted the absence of coherent planning in the government's developmental initiatives.

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Raj Thackeray further targeted the state administration over the rising drug menace, alleging a nexus between political funding and easy availability of narcotics. He claimed that raids against drug peddlers have virtually stopped and that there is no effective control over the drug trade. The MNS leader stressed the urgency of addressing this issue alongside the broader political concerns affecting Maharashtra's identity and governance.

The rare joint appearance by the Thackeray cousins underscores the recently announced alliance between MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) for the upcoming BMC polls. Their unified messaging focuses on protecting Marathi pride, resisting perceived threats to Mumbai's integration with Maharashtra, and challenging the BJP's dominance in urban local bodies. As the election campaign intensifies, the interview signals a concerted effort to rally regional sentiment against the ruling dispensation.

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