Sanjay Raut Claims Thackeray Can Shut Mumbai; Fadnavis Dismisses

Political tensions in Maharashtra have intensified ahead of the 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut made a provocative claim about the Thackeray family’s political influence. Speaking on NDTV Power Play, Raut asserted that “the Thackerays can never be wiped out” and that they can “still shut down Mumbai in 10 minutes,” signaling their continued dominance over the city’s politics.

Raut Frames Reunion as Family Matter

The remarks came just days after a significant reunion between Thackeray cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray following nearly two decades of separation. Raut characterized this as a natural family closure rather than a political move, emphasizing their familial bonds. He described the Thackeray brothers as a “brand” capable of mobilizing political power and confidently predicted that a Thackeray-aligned mayor would emerge from the upcoming BMC elections.

Fadnavis Counters with Party Split Reality

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis quickly responded to Raut’s statement during the same broadcast, dismissing it as an “empty threat.” Fadnavis referenced the failed attempt to prevent Eknath Shinde’s entry into Mumbai and highlighted the transformative impact of the 2022 Shiv Sena split. He noted that while such actions were possible under Bal Thackeray’s leadership, the current political landscape has fundamentally changed due to Shinde’s rise.

The exchange underscores the high stakes surrounding the BMC elections, with the Thackeray faction confident in their comeback despite the party’s division and the emergence of rival power structures within Maharashtra’s political ecosystem.