Maharashtra CM Fadnavis
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis fired a sharp and witty response to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s claim — that “if God willing,” his party could have its mayor in Mumbai — asking whether “Deva” referred to him or to God.Thackeray, in his first public address following the BMC election defeat, had said, “It’s our dream to get Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor elected; if God willing it will happen.” He also took a dig at the BJP, saying, “BJP wants to mortgage Mumbai, won polls by betrayal; Marathi manoos won’t forgive this sin. There is a clear difference between the BJP and us. Shiv Sena may have been targeted on paper, but no one can erase it from the hearts of the people.”Also read | ‘BJP won polls by betrayal’: Uddhav Thackeray in 1st public address after Mumbai BMC elections resultReacting to this, Fadnavis asserted that even divine will aside, the details of the mayoral post will be decided by him and his allies. “What does ‘Deva’ mean? Me or God? Because I am also called Deva (Deva Bhau)…. It is indeed the will of the Almighty that the Mayor will be from the Mahayuti. Who will become the Mayor, when the Mayor will be elected, where it will be decided, and for how many years all these decisions will be taken collectively by me, Eknath Shinde, and our party leaders. There is no dispute whatsoever on this,” he said. Follow Mumbai BMC Election Results 2026 Live UpdatesAfter nearly three decades at the helm of India’s richest civic body, the Thackerays have lost control of the BMC to the Mahayuti alliance, led by the BJP and former Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who split from the party three-and-a-half years ago.Mahayuti crossed the halfway mark of 114 seats in the 227-member House, with the BJP winning 89 and Shinde’s Sena 29, giving the BJP a narrow lead. The party will need Shinde Sena’s support for major decisions.
