Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Tamil Nadu, K Annamalai, issued a bold challenge to the Thackeray family on Monday, declaring he would not be cowed by personal attacks or online threats and would enter Mumbai as planned. His defiant statement came as a direct response to the mockery he faced from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who labelled him "ras malai" during a joint rally with Shiv Sena (UBT).
A Defiant Stand Against "Ras Malai" Jibes and Threats
Addressing the media in Chennai, Annamalai directly countered the personal attacks made against him. "Who are Raj Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray to threaten me? I am proud to be a farmer's son. If I were afraid of such threats, I would have stayed in my village," he stated emphatically. He revealed that he had received disturbing online messages warning him against visiting Mumbai, with some even threatening physical harm. "Some have written that they will cut my legs if I come to Mumbai. I will come to Mumbai… try cutting my legs," Annamalai dared his detractors.
The BJP leader expressed a degree of bemusement at the attention, noting, "Some people are holding meetings only to abuse me. I don't know if I have become that important." His remarks were aimed at the Sunday rally at Shivaji Park where Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray had launched a broadside against the BJP, accusing it of attempting to undermine Mumbai.
The Spark: Annamalai's "International City" Remark
The political firestorm was ignited by Annamalai's comments to the press last Friday. While campaigning for BJP candidates in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, he stressed the need for a unified vision for the city's development between the Centre, the state, and the BMC. He described Mumbai as an "international city" with a massive budget of Rs 75,000 crore, comparing it to Chennai (Rs 8,000 crore) and Bengaluru (Rs 19,000 crore). He argued that such finances required competent administrators.
This characterization, however, was swiftly seized upon by regional parties as an attempt to dilute Maharashtra's claim over its capital. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut called the remark "a tight slap" on Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and demanded Annamalai's arrest. The Thackeray brothers accused the BJP of a plot to "break Mumbai" from Maharashtra to benefit industrialists and dominate the Marathi populace.
Annamalai has rejected this interpretation, asserting his comments were about governance, not identity. "If I say Mumbai is a world-class city, does it mean Maharashtrians did not build it?" he questioned. BJP allies have defended him, with State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule stating the opposition was twisting his words out of context.
Mumbai: The Perennial Emotional Plank in Maharashtra Politics
The controversy taps into a deep-seated historical sentiment in Maharashtra. The battle for Mumbai, especially during the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement from 1956 to 1960, is a foundational chapter in the state's history. The city's status as the state capital, secured after a prolonged struggle, has remained a potent political tool. Parties like the undivided Shiv Sena under Bal Thackeray have historically leveraged this sentiment.
Opposition leaders, including Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal, have framed Annamalai's statement as part of a larger pattern under the Modi-Shah regime where Maharashtra loses key projects to Gujarat. Uddhav Thackeray questioned why mega projects were being relocated and challenged the BJP's commitment to the city.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed these allegations as a "fake narrative" and a sign of the opposition's lack of substantive issues. He turned the tables by challenging Uddhav Thackeray to name a single development project completed for Mumbai during his tenure, offering Rs 3,000 to anyone who could provide an example. Uddhav Thackeray retorted by challenging the BJP to show its "Mumbai model," offering Rs 1 lakh in return.
Meanwhile, within the NDA, Shiv Sena leader Shaina N C criticised Raj Thackeray's personal attack on Annamalai. "Raj Thackeray should be talking about his work instead of disrespecting people," she said, emphasising that elections should be contested on governance and performance, not abuse.
As the war of words intensifies, the focus remains on the high-stakes BMC polls, with Mumbai's identity and development once again at the centre of a fierce political debate.
