After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a clear majority in the Mira–Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) elections, a BJP mayor is set to take charge of the civic body.
However, there is growing insistence that the city’s first citizen, the mayor must be a Marathi. To press this demand, the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena staged a protest on Wednesday at the entrance of the MBMC headquarters.
Meanwhile, Marathi Ekikaran Samiti president Govardhan Deshmukh, joint secretary Krishna Jadhav, and treasurer Pramod Parte submitted a letter on Tuesday to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP state president Ravindra Chavan, Mira–Bhayandar district president Dilip Jain, and MLA Narendra Mehta.
While congratulating BJP leaders on their electoral success, the letter firmly demanded that only a Marathi individual be appointed as mayor. The committee warned that although Mira–Bhayandar is a city that respects all communities, appointing a non-Marathi mayor in a Marathi-speaking state could create unnecessary regional tensions.
The letter also expressed concern that a large number of non-Marathi candidates were given opportunities in the elections, allegedly undermining the rights of local Marathi-speaking citizens. It demanded that Marathi be given primary status in the functioning of the municipal corporation and sought a clear assurance that Marathi citizens would not be treated as secondary.
MNS leader Robert D’Souza alleged that large electoral victories were achieved through collusion between the administration and the ruling party. Following this, an MNS delegation met the municipal secretary and submitted a written memorandum.
The memorandum reiterated the demand that, keeping in mind the sentiments of Marathi citizens in Mira–Bhayandar, only a Marathi person should be appointed as mayor. MNS office-bearers warned that if a Marathi mayor is not appointed, the agitation would be intensified through democratic means.
The protest reflected strong sentiments that appointing a Marathi mayor is essential to protect Marathi identity and existence in Mira–Bhayandar. Govardhan Deshmukh cautioned that the BJP should take a farsighted decision and appoint a Marathi mayor, failing which it would face strong opposition from the Marathi community.
During Wednesday’s protest at the municipal corporation entrance, MNS activists raised slogans demanding a “Marathi mayor.” MNS leader Sachin Popale also criticised BJP MLA Narendra Mehta, accusing him of sidelining Marathi and local candidates in the elections and claiming that the number of Marathi corporators was deliberately reduced.
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