Bharatiya Janata Party leader K. Annamalai lauded Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other party leaders over Mahayuti's win in the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. "People of Mumbai have spoken with crystal clarity," said the BJP leader who was ridiculed heavily by the Thackeray camp over his "Bombay international city" remark during campaigning in Mumbai.
Congratulating Maharashtra BJP, Annamalai said in a post on X, "The historic victory of the Mahayuti alliance in the BMC elections is a resounding endorsement of development-first governance. From the grassroots of local bodies to the halls of the parliament, this is the Triple Engine that delivers real, tangible development for every citizen," he said.
Taking a dig at the Opposition camp led by Shiva Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray, Annamalai said, "While the opposition trafficked in divisive narratives aimed at fragmenting the people, Mumbai chose unity, progress, and inclusive growth."
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"The opposition was banking on the failed strategy of dividing Mumbaikars along linguistic and regional lines, a 20th-century relic the people soundly rejected. While our NDA government talks about development infrastructure, jobs, and growth, the opposition clung to an archaic narrative of regional animosity. Mumbaikars chose substance over divisiveness," he added.
While campaigning in Mumbai for BMC polls, Annamalai haid said, "his is the only metro city in the country where a triple engine is possible. Modi is in Delhi, Fadnavis is the chief minister, and now Bombay will have a BJP mayor. Bombay is not a Maharashtra city but an international city."
Latching onto his comments, the Sena camp alleged Annamalai's words revealed the BJP's hidden agenda to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray even mockingly called him "Rasmalai," and invoked Sena's oldlogan: "Hatao lungi, bajao pungi."