Aaditya Thackeray Slams Karnataka Congress MLA’s Call to Make Mumbai a Union Territory

Mumbai, 19th December 2024: On Thursday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray vehemently opposed the suggestion by Karnataka Congress MLA Laxman Savadi to make Mumbai a Union Territory. Thackeray condemned the demand in a strong post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that his party would never tolerate any attempt to sever Mumbai from Maharashtra. He called Mumbai his “motherland,” stressing that it was built by the sacrifices of the Marathi people. Thackeray further asserted that neither Congress nor BJP or any party, would succeed in separating Mumbai from Maharashtra. He urged Congress leadership to reprimand its MLAs for such statements.

This controversy arose amid the ongoing territorial dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka over Belagavi, a border town with a large Marathi-speaking population. Savadi’s remark came in response to Maharashtra leaders’ demands for Belagavi to be made a Union Territory, suggesting that Mumbai should similarly be declared a Union Territory.

The comment has intensified the long-running dispute, as the three parties involved—Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP—are all part of the national opposition INDIA bloc.

At a politically sensitive moment, Thackeray’s remarks were made against the backdrop of the Shiv Sena (UBT) being part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance with Congress and NCP (SP).

In another statement, Aaditya Thackeray criticized the delay in the allocation of portfolios following Maharashtra’s recent cabinet expansion. He pointed out the confusion and uncertainty caused by the lack of clear roles for ministers. Thackeray suggested that this delay reflected internal power struggles within the Mahayuti alliance, with ministers focused more on “portfolio fights” than addressing public concerns.