Mumbai, Dec 24: Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam has taken a sharp dig at the newly announced alliance between the Thackeray cousins ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, asserting that the tie-up will have no impact on the BJP-led Mahayuti and claiming that its flag will continue to fly across Mumbai after the polls.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena founder Raj Thackeray on Wednesday formally announced an alliance for the upcoming BMC and Nashik Municipal Corporation elections.

The move is being seen as a significant political realignment aimed at consolidating the Marathi vote bank and mounting a challenge to the BJP-led Mahayuti.

Reacting to the development, Kadam recalled past differences between the two leaders and questioned the credibility of their reunion.

Speaking to Media, he said, “Twenty years ago, on September 27, 2005, Uddhav Thackeray treated Raj Thackeray so badly that he was forced to leave the party. Today, the same Uddhav is standing at his door with a begging bowl, asking for support. This is what destiny means.”

Kadam further dismissed the electoral impact of the alliance, claiming that public rallies and emotional appeals would not convert into votes.

“There will be crowds during their campaigns, but it will not translate into votes. There will be emotional appeals to divide Mumbaikars. However, every citizen of Mumbai knows that during Covid-19, Uddhav Thackeray and his government looted the city,” he alleged.

The BJP leader also credited the current pace of development in Mumbai to the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“All the development you see in Mumbai today has taken place under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis. Uddhav Thackeray and his government only played the ’20 per cent commission’ game. Because of his arbitrary actions, we could not hold our heads high in Mumbai,” Kadam said.

The alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray is being widely viewed as a strategic attempt to counter the BJP-led Mahayuti, especially in Mumbai, where the Marathi vote base has remained divided since the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena.

By projecting a “unified Thackeray family”, the two leaders are seeking to reclaim the traditional Shiv Sainik support base in the civic body elections.

However, Kadam remained confident about the Mahayuti’s prospects and reiterated his dismissal of the alliance.

“Despite both brothers coming together for the BMC polls, only Mahayuti’s flag will fly across Mumbai, as well as the entire state,” he said.

Questioning the political relevance of the Thackeray name, the BJP MLA remarked, “The Thackeray brand no longer exists. Thackeray was a brand only during the time of Balasaheb Thackeray; now, it’s only a surname. If there were a ‘Thackeray brand’ in reality today, they would not have lost the municipal elections. There is no point in making headlines now.”

BJP leader Navneet Rana also called out the alliance and said that it was formed out of “self-interest” and not for the family.

“I want to point out that the way Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are coming together today as a family may look good on the surface, like two brothers uniting, but it is driven by self-interest, not love or familial affection. This alliance is purely for political gain and to revive their influence. Uddhav Thackeray’s party, which once had the strength to form the Chief Minister, now ranks last in municipal and local body elections, with very few chairpersons elected,” she told Media.

Meanwhile, political observers describe the tie-up as a “make-or-break” move for both parties. The electoral strategy seeks to combine Raj Thackeray’s influence among core Marathi voters — estimated at around 26 per cent of Mumbai’s electorate — with Uddhav Thackeray’s expanded support base, including Muslim-majority pockets, following his more inclusive positioning during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to a cool and relatively crisp Wednesday morning, offering residents a short-lived taste of winter comfort. Clear skies, gentle winds and a noticeable dip in humidity provided early morning relief, making conditions pleasant for commuters, morning walkers and outdoor workers. However, despite the favourable weather, air quality continued to remain a concern.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast a bright and comfortable day for the financial capital, with temperatures expected to hover between 17°C and 32°C. While the weather lived up to expectations, air quality emerged as the key issue shaping public health discussions through the day.

According to data from air quality monitoring platform AQI.in, Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 86 in the early hours, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. This marked a significant improvement compared to the poor and unhealthy air recorded over the past few weeks.

The improvement comes amid heightened scrutiny of pollution control measures following recent observations by the Bombay High Court, which reprimanded the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) over repeated violations of pollution norms at infrastructure project sites.

Despite the overall improvement, pollution sources continue to persist across the city. Construction dust and fine particulate matter remain the primary contributors to Mumbai’s pollution burden. Several large-scale government infrastructure projects, including metro rail corridors, flyovers, coastal road extensions and extensive road-widening works, are underway simultaneously. These, along with aggressive private real estate development, have led to sustained dust emissions. Vehicular pollution during peak traffic hours further compounds the problem, particularly at busy junctions and arterial roads.

Several areas still recorded worrying AQI levels. The Wadala Truck Terminal emerged as a pollution hotspot with an AQI of 183, falling in the ‘poor’ category. Chembur followed with an AQI of 123, while Colaba recorded 117, both also classified as poor. Deonar reported an AQI of 98, placing it at the higher end of the ‘moderate’ range. Malad, a densely populated residential and commercial area, recorded an AQI of 95.

Suburban regions showed comparatively better air quality, though conditions remained far from ideal. Govandi recorded an AQI of 52, while Malad West stood at 62, both in the moderate category. Kandivali East reported 67, Vile Parle West 68 and Jogeshwari 70, indicating that pollution continues to be widespread across the city.

For perspective, AQI values between 0–50 are considered good, 51–100 moderate, 101–150 poor, 151–200 unhealthy and above 200 hazardous.

NIA Chief Sadanand Date: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) of the Central Government has taken a significant administrative decision, approving the immediate repatriation of National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director General and senior IPS officer Sadanand Vasant Date to his parent cadre in Maharashtra. This order, issued on December 22nd, is considered highly significant from both an administrative and political perspective.

Sadanand Date is a 1990 batch IPS officer and is known as a strict, honest, and experienced officer at both the central and state levels. During his tenure as NIA chief, the agency’s role in several sensitive and national security-related cases was further strengthened. Under his leadership, the NIA’s efficiency and credibility have increased.

This decision comes at a time when elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are scheduled for January. The BMC is one of the largest municipal corporations in the country, and maintaining law and order during its elections is a major challenge for the state police. Therefore, experienced leadership at both the central and state levels is considered crucial.

The term of the current Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, Rashmi Shukla, ends on December 31st. In this context, Sadanand Date’s name is being considered as a frontrunner for the next DGP of the state. According to administrative sources, Date’s appointment could ensure a fair and robust security arrangement during the elections.

Sadanand Date is known as the courageous officer who directly confronted terrorist Ajmal Kasab at the Cama and Albless Hospital during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He was seriously injured during the incident, but his courage and dedication to duty earned him national recognition.

If Sadanand Date is appointed as the new DGP of Maharashtra, it will be considered a major and positive step for the state’s law and order and security apparatus. Administrative circles believe that his appointment will boost the morale of the police force and help in conducting the upcoming elections peacefully.