MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray release manifesto for BMC elections at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Mumbai on January 4, 2026 | Photo credit: ANI
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Sunday (January 4, 2026) released their joint manifesto Vachan Nama (promissory note) for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections while demanding cancellation of elections in constituencies where candidates were elected.
Both leaders accused the Mahayuti-led BJP of “stealing candidates” and violating democratic norms ahead of the January 15 civic polls.
The manifesto was launched at the Shiv Sena Bhavan, on the occasion of Mr. Raj Thackeray’s first visit to the party headquarters in nearly two decades after he left in 2005. Although the alliance includes the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), no senior official of the party was present at the event.
The document outlines wide-ranging promises in housing, transport, health and education. He promises affordable housing for Mumbaikars, states that city land will be reserved for residents and announces one million affordable houses in five years. A separate housing authority of the BMC will be set up. Property tax will be waived on homes up to 700 square feet, and rezoning rules will ensure one parking space per apartment.
The main topic was women voters. The alliance promised Swabhiman Nidhi a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 for domestic help and Koli women, similar to the state’s Ladki Bahin Yojana. She also proposed clean toilets for women on main roads and crèches in every assembly segment for working parents.
Other welfare measures include 100 units of free electricity through Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), although the manifesto does not clarify whether this applies to the entire city or only to areas served by the utility. The Shiv Bhojan Thali-like meal plan will offer breakfast and lunch at ₹10. Financial assistance ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹1,000 for self-employment and an interest-free loan of ₹25,000 for gig workers were also promised.
On transport, the alliance has pledged to reduce the minimum bus fare to ₹5 from ₹10 and introduce new buses and routes. The health initiatives include five new medical colleges in civic hospitals, a super-specialty cancer hospital and ambulance on a bike. Education reforms are proposed by public schools in Mumbai with classes from Kindergarten to Class 12. Pet parks, clinics, dispensaries and crematoria are also listed here.
Mr. Uddhav Thackeray took the opportunity to launch a scathing attack on the ruling alliance, alleging that it has been misusing BMC funds since his government was ousted in June 2022. “If the BMC’s expenditure budget is ₹15,000 crore, then the amount to be given to contractors in the form of advance mobilization is all ₹3 crore of funding. polls.”
He demanded the suspension of Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar for “threatening candidates and voters” and urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to cancel elections in constituencies with unopposed victories. “You have stolen the voters’ right to vote by electing unopposed candidates. By-elections should be held in these seats,” he said, calling the situation a “mobocracy” and warning that Gen-Z voters were being denied their right to vote.
He also urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to release call records of Returning Officers (ROs). Mr. Uddhav Thackeray looked at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and remarked, “We have no comparison with PM Modi who built Mount Kailash and brought Ganga to earth. He was the one who did Samudra Manthan! We are still waiting for the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to come out of the sea where PM Modi did pojan years ago.”
Mr. Raj Thackeray echoed fears of an unopposed victory and asked why the BJP, which had approached the Supreme Court of India over similar cases in West Bengal, was now silent. “Power is not permanent. If they think they will never be removed, they should think again,” he said, adding that a Maratha would be the mayor of Mumbai and other cities, and warned that Maharashtra was turning into Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Hours later, Shiv Sena leader and former MP Rahul Shewale called the manifesto “ideologically bankrupt” and “copied from 2017”. He said that three words – Hinduhṛday Samrat, Hindutva and Marathi Manoos – were deliberately left out and alleged that the Thackerays had abandoned the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray. Mr. Shewale alleged that promises such as a medical college, 24×7 water supply through the Gargai-Pinjal project and sea water desalination facility were being recycled. “The manifesto may have Balasaheb’s photograph but his soul is missing,” he said, adding that the Shiv Sena would soon unveil a five-year action plan aimed at Marathi people and entrepreneurs.
Published – 04 Jan 2026 19:45 IST
