- 12 hours ago
On this Special Report, the focus is on the landmark victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the Maharashtra civic elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has emerged as the 'man of the moment' after the alliance captured majorities in key strongholds including Thane, Pune, Nagpur, and Nashik. Most significantly, the alliance has ended the 30-year dominance of the Thackeray family over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Asia's richest municipality. Fadnavis stated, 'He promised, he delivered,' as the report traces his journey from Nagpur's youngest mayor to the architect of this saffron surge. The programme features exclusive interviews with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who emphasized that 'people have accepted development' and 'rejected emotional issues.' Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora and Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar also weigh in on how the results settle the debate over the 'real' Shiv Sena and signal a shift toward aspirational, infrastructure-led politics in India's commercial capital.
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00:00good evening you're watching news track with me maria shakiel maharashtra's civic polls have
00:23delivered a resounding saffron verdict the bjp shinde sena alliance has stormed to victory
00:29capturing majorities in strongholds like tane pune nakpur nashek high stakes mumbai has witnessed a
00:38saffron surge as well the ruling mahayuti has emerged as the winner and the mumbai is poised to get its
00:44first ever bjp mayor after nine years without elections voters have rejected udhav thakere's
00:50reunion with raj thakere's mns limiting their alliance to scattered pockets this isn't mere
00:58arithmetic its bjp is booth machinery and modi fadnavis appeal trumping identity politics
01:07reviewing assembly dominance that we have seen the man of the moment is of course chief minister
01:15divendra fadnavis who first became chief minister in 2019 fadnavis's significance in this victory
01:23goes beyond numbers it reaffirms his grip on maharashtra's bjp his credibility as a strategist
01:31and his indispensability to the party's central leadership a comeback not just for the alliance
01:39but for his political heft and like he famously predicted on the floor of maharashtra assembly
01:45may samundar hun may lot kar aunga take a look at his journey
01:51he promised he delivered
02:03devendra fadnavis maharashtra chief minister is the star of the day the bjp-led alliance dethroned
02:13the thakre's from the bmc asia's richest municipality on friday
02:18but now his journey to the top is an inspiring story in itself and underscores how hard work pays off
02:27the powerful maharashtra chief minister the world knows today was once a model who posed for the camera
02:33first photographer friend at a garment showroom fadnavis then entered politics and became the
02:39youngest counselor at 22 he went on to become nagpur's youngest mayor there was no stopping him
02:46after that cut to 2014 fadnavis took oath as chief minister of maharashtra at 44 he became the state's
02:56second youngest chief minister the grand ceremony was held at vankhari stadium packed with more than
03:0435,000 people including narendra modi who had become prime minister just months earlier the undivided
03:12shiv sena and bjp ran the government with fadnavis as chief minister until 2019 when relations turned sour
03:20bjp's oldest ally shiv sena split ties with the second party and joined congress and ncp
03:30fadnavis in a surprise move took oath alongside ncp's ajit pavar in an early morning drama but could
03:37not form the government bringing major embarrassment to him and his party the bjp maintained trust in
03:43fadnavis and appointed him leader of opposition it was in the assembly that he made the iconic statement
03:50merah pali uttarta dekh mere kinare par gharmat basa lena
03:57merah pali uttarta dekh mere kinare par gharmat basa lena main samandar hu laut kar wapis
04:07then came 2022 eknaash shinde rebelled against his own party fled to assam brought down the undhaf
04:15sarkar and joined hands with the bjp fadnavis played a crucial role in the entire exercise
04:22and was expected to become chief minister again but in a surprise he was made eknaash shinde's deputy
04:28fadnavis swallowed the bitter pill and took oath as deputy chief minister
04:32the 2024 lok sabha polls was a big setback the opposition maharashtra vikasa gadi won maximum seats
04:45the bjp was taken by surprise the assembly polls were next
04:50mahavikasa gadi was confident of victory but fadnavis led the bjp to its best ever performance
04:56in maharashtra assembly polls fadnavis was restored as chief minister his hard work paid off
05:04and now the bjp-led mahayuti has snatched the bmc from the thak race adding another feather to his camp
05:13bureau report india today
05:15and soon after the mahayuti victory i spoke to maharashtra's deputy chief minister eknaash shinde
05:24and listen in to what he had to say
05:28deputy chief minister eknaash shinde ji is joining us
05:31uh
05:36uh
05:40uh
05:42Thank you very much.
06:12Thank you very much.
06:42Thank you very much.
09:36I am so aware that Mumbai will be developed and the Maharashtra will be developed. Mumbai and the
09:46Mumbai who supported the Chinese and supported them, now they will deny them. Justice will deny them
09:53and their rights will not be done. And the mayor of BJP will be the mayor of BJP, sir?
10:00Mayor of BJP will be the mayor of the Maharashtra and the Maharashtra will be the mayor of the Maharashtra.
10:10But why don't you say that it will be the mayor of the BJP?
10:15Well, now is the rest of the time. What will you tell us later?
10:21That's okay, Iknath Shindeji.
10:23Iknath Shindeji, Iknath Shindeji, thank you very much for talking to us.
10:27And as celebrations continue in the Shinde Sena camp, joining me now is Shiv Sena MP, Milind Diora.
10:34Mr. Diora, I spoke to Mr. Shinde just some time back and one of the questions that was asked is that
10:40does this election seal the long debate which has been going on for the last four years now,
10:48which is the Asli Shiv Sena. Is that finally sealed?
10:52And his response was rather interesting that how many times is that question going to be asked.
11:00As a prominent Mumbaiker yourself, Mr. Diora, how would you look at the national impact of these BMC polls?
11:06Results?
11:10Absolutely. It's a victory for the Alliance.
11:14It's certainly a victory for my party and I would agree with Mr. Shindeji that I don't know why we need to keep asking that question.
11:20That issue was settled in the Lok Sabha election. It was resettled in the Vidhan Sabha election.
11:24It's been resettled in this election.
11:26If you look at places like Mumbai where the UBT has a strong presence where Aditya Thakri himself is an MLA in my very constituency.
11:35Despite that, we've done, based on the trends, we seem to have done well with the Alliance.
11:43We have about a 20% vote share in Mumbai, which has obviously helped the Alliance counter UBT in our strongholds in the MMR,
11:51Mumbai metropolitan region.
11:53In areas like Kalyan, Dombevli, in areas like Thane, we've done exceedingly well.
12:00So that issue of who is the real Shiv Sena has been settled long back.
12:03But to answer your question, yes, the real Shiv Sena, as per the people of Maharashtra, is very clearly the one led by Iknat Shinde.
12:10That said, the Mumbai municipality is certainly unique.
12:13It's a very important election.
12:14And I can see that why there's so much national hype around this election.
12:19And the biggest reason for that is that Mumbai is, of course, India's commercial cultural capital.
12:24And the Mumbai municipal corporation has the 75,000, 76,000 crore annual budget,
12:30which is higher than almost five state governments in our country.
12:34And that the UBT has been running this, their family really has been running the Mumbai municipal corporation for the last 30 years.
12:45The last time there was another party was in 1996.
12:51And from 1996 to now, it's been run by the UBT.
12:54And people of Mumbai wanted accountability.
12:57People of Mumbai wanted a change.
13:00This is the first time that in 30 years that there has been a change.
13:04And I think the fact that it's the same party and the same alliance that will run the Mumbai municipal corporation that is in power in the state and that's in power in the center certainly augurs well for the city of Mumbai.
13:16It means there will be more coordination.
13:19There will be a more coordinated effort.
13:20There will be greater accountability, transparency, better governance.
13:23So, I'm confident that the kind of infrastructure that the people of Mumbai have been witnessing in the last few years will continue to be strengthened with the Mahayuti having control of the very prestigious Mumbai municipal corporation.
13:38Okay, one of the takeaways, Mr. Diora, of the results is that perhaps the people of Maharashtra have rejected dynasty politics or Parivarwar.
13:49Look at the Parivar, you know, Pawar bastion of Pune.
13:53That has certainly been breached.
13:55There is a gap of almost 70 seats between the BJP and the NCP.
14:00Then the Thakare.
14:01You know, the cousins came together.
14:04They were hoping for the nostalgia of the Thakare brand.
14:08That has also not worked.
14:12I don't know the politics of Pune as well as I know the politics of Mumbai.
14:15As far as Mumbai is concerned, I can certainly say that, you know, simply saying that we've come together, two brothers coming together because frankly out of compulsions, political compulsions, just a few months ago they were at each other's throats.
14:28And suddenly they've come together.
14:30These things don't really go well with the electorate.
14:32The electorate can see through that.
14:34Secondly, when you have, when they ran a campaign where they should have actually been explaining what they've done in the last 25 years and what they intend to do.
14:41Instead of that, they try to distract and naturally they try to distract because they don't have much to answer.
14:47So they try to take the public's attention away to more emotive issues.
14:51And that too was rejected.
14:53So there is a shelf life and an expiry date to using emotional issues and to saying, you know, vote for us otherwise Mumbai will fall apart and Mumbai will be taken out of Maharashtra.
15:05This is something which, you know, this was something which they've been saying for the last 30 years.
15:10And it worked for them for a long time, but it's not going to work anymore.
15:14And I think the voters saw through it.
15:16The voters saw a change in Mumbai's infrastructure on the ground.
15:19They saw that things have improved for them.
15:22The work between of the state government, the central government has helped Mumbai, and they wanted a change.
15:28So I think it was a silly campaign on their part to do what they did.
15:32That said, you know, they've certainly, based on the trends, they've got a decent number of seats.
15:42And that probably is because they use an emotional plank.
15:46But as I said that people today want governance, people want accountability, people want the country's largest and richest civic body to be held more accountable and to deliver.
15:55You know, it's embarrassing for us that as Mumbai cars that we come from the city, which, as I said, has the richest civic body, but yet we have potholes year after year.
16:06And there is something which should have been fixed a long, long time ago.
16:09It's just one problem.
16:10Yes, there are challenges, certainly, for the BMC, which will now be led by a BJP mayor.
16:17But look at the narrative or should I say the language which was used in this election.
16:24On one hand, the BJP-led Mahayuti was speaking about how a Khan should never become a Mumbai mayor.
16:31On the other hand, the entire lungi-pungi jibe.
16:35Would you agree as a Mumbaiker here that the electoral conversation, the electoral language had taken a new hit, a huge hit in this election, a new low?
16:50I can speak on behalf of my party.
16:52My party's agenda was very constructive, very positive, very focused on development, very focused on what we've done, what we intend to do, how we intend to improve infrastructure and accountability in the Mumbai municipal cooperation.
17:04And I think, you know, certainly the opposition tried to create an emotional plank.
17:11The fact that the two brothers got together itself was to sell an emotional, to make an emotional pitch that, you know, we've come together out of compulsion and we've come to save Mumbai, which is being taken out of Maharashtra.
17:22And these things don't work, there's a new generation of voters, they're aspirational, they want infrastructure, they want to see the city move forward.
17:29And, you know, I've always believed, Maria, that Mumbai's competition, there was a time when Mumbai's competition was Bengaluru in Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad.
17:41I really believe today that Mumbai has to set its sights on Dubai in the West and its Singapore in the East, and we have to aspire to compete with these world-class cities.
17:52These are cities that are taking market share away from Mumbai.
17:55These are cities that are attracting talent.
17:57And these are the cities that we have to compete against.
17:59So, I think we have to have global aspirations and make Mumbai an epicenter, not just of India, but a cultural and an economic epicenter for the world.
18:10All right, Milind Diora, really appreciate your time.
18:13Thank you for joining us and sharing your thoughts on what certainly is a big victory for your party and the larger alliance.
18:20I also spoke to Maharashtra's assembly, speaker of the Maharashtra assembly.
18:25He's a young MLA from Kulaba constituency.
18:28Listen in to this conversation with Rahul Narvekar.
18:31Rahul Narvekar is the speaker of Maharashtra assembly.
18:37He's joining us right now.
18:40Rahul Narvekar, what do you think has led to this kind of BJP sweep across Maharashtra, not just the BMC?
18:48Several pockets which were seen as the Pawar bastion or the supposed Thakre bastion have also crumbled.
18:56Well, at the outset, I would like to thank the people of Maharashtra for once again completely trusting the Bharti Janta Party alliance and casting their vote in favour of this alliance.
19:11As you're aware that the people of Maharashtra, through this mandate, have voted for progress, have voted for development.
19:18The people of Mumbai have done the same.
19:20The outstanding coastal road, may it be the Atal Setu or the brilliant Metro network, which has made life much easier for Mumbaikers, is what the Mumbaikers have considered while they cast their vote.
19:33So, I would like to once again thank Mumbaikers for this support and trust that they've expressed in the Bharti Janta Party alliance.
19:42Mr Narvekar, how do you look at the fact that, you know, this was, the BMC in particular was seen as the Thakre dominated.
19:52After 30 years, now it is the BJP led Mahayuti which will be dominating it and perhaps BJP will also get its mayor in BMC.
20:01Well, you know, Mumbaikers have waited for this moment a little too long.
20:07They were fed up with the lacklustre administration of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation in the hands of the Shivatena UBT fraction.
20:18And now they have expressed their opinion of having a better governance and administration in Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
20:27Mr Narvekar, you know, there were multiple issues and narratives that played out in these elections.
20:33How do you look at the fact that people, that many are seeing this as a new Maharashtra, Maharashtra which has changed, which has become more accommodative and cosmopolitan in the real sense,
20:45that the Marathi sentiment or the Marathi pride that was spoken out by the Thakres has been the politics which has been rejected by the people of Maharashtra today.
20:54People have voted for development. People are no more interested in sentimentally driven issues.
21:01You know, just to emotionally charge people and deliver nothing. This is not going to work any longer in the city of Mumbai.
21:07Needless to state, the city of Mumbai is a very cosmopolitan city.
21:11And needless to state that, of course, the Marathi Manus who originates from the city of Mumbai certainly has some sentimental connect and their culture and their values will always be respected and always will be given a priority.
21:26But having said that, we are very, very aware of the fact that this city is a cosmopolitan city which requires the best amenities, best facilities that takes along everyone.
21:40This requires the best of infrastructure. We have to make this a world class city.
21:47In this historic win, the man of the moment is Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis.
21:54Let's now listen in from his wife, Amruta Fadnavis, who is a banker, an artist and also a social worker.
22:01I am leaving you with this conversation. Thanks so much for watching.
22:05Ms. Fadnavis, congratulations on this victory for your party.
22:12We are looking at those visuals coming in from the BJP office in Mumbai.
22:17What are your thoughts about this, you know, outstanding performance of the BJP?
22:25Good evening.
22:26And ma'am, I am very happy and overwhelmed about the way BJP has performed across 29 Mahanagar Pallikas.
22:35And very happy for the way hard work was put in by everyone from Karyakarta to Devendra Ji under the guidance of Narendra Motiji and all the seniors of the party.
22:50So, I think so. It's very well. They have performed very well.
22:55The Mahayuti has together shown it that they are the true leaders for the state and they are here for pure development.
23:05Because they are in Maharashtra and they mean development.
23:10One thing is also clear, ma'am, that the women of Maharashtra have come out to vote for Mahayuti and so have the youth.
23:20What do you think is working for the party?
23:22Is it the Ladki Bain or what is the larger sentiment according to you that is making the women of Maharashtra come out to cast their vote for Devendra Fadnavis led Mahayuti?
23:35I would just say that the Mahayuti, definitely Ladki Bain, all the sisters from Maharashtra have supported Mahayuti.
23:44Similarly, the youth of today knows they cannot be flown into politics of language, of caste, of other things which do not matter to them.
23:57What matters to them is whether this development is reaching their houses through their societies, through their city, through their state Maharashtra.
24:09So, I think they have voted for politics of good governance, politics of development under the proven leadership of Narendra Modi ji and the hard work of Devendra Fadnavis has really worked well.
24:25That's what I feel.
24:27It's often said that behind every successful man there is a woman.
24:31Am I talking to the woman who is behind the successful model of Devendra Fadnavis here because he positioned himself as the inframan of Maharashtra.
24:44Someone who was building bridges, tunnels and that is something that may have clicked, particularly with the aspirational Mumbaikers.
24:54Yeah, he is definitely the inframan for Maharashtra, but he has taken into account needs of various sections of the society which showcases in the policies tailor-made for Maharashtra.
25:11So, I am happy he is catering to every section of the society which is also helping.
25:17I think so it is in a nutshell too many things put together which make them the leaders of today and I think so they have a lot to prove after this success.
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