Increased money in politics and drugs on the streets needs to be analysed: Raj Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Thursday (January 8, 2026) levelled serious allegations against the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. They said that the people were being neglected and that power was being misused.

In a joint interview with actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut with a regional channel, on the backdrop of the upcoming local body elections in the State, the Thackeray cousins highlighted their agenda concerning how the Marathi Manoos have been exploited, betrayed, and how migration has taken away the rights of locals.

Referring to the Shiv Sena split in 2022 and the alleged money given to the MLAs who walked out with Eknath Shinde, Mr. Raj asked, “40 MLAs mean ₹2,000 crores, where did this money come from?” Mr. Raj said the connection between the increased money in politics and drugs on the streets needs to be analysed.

Mr. Uddhav accused the Chief Minister of giving a clean chit without any investigation into those involved in the raid that happened in Satara. “BJP is all concerned about power that they are willing to let common people die, and align with those in the drug business,” he said.

The cousins also spoke about pollution, deforestation, drug abuse, crime against women, and governance. They said that the State and Central governments are responsible for illegal drugs reaching schools.

Civic issues 

Mr. Manjrekar asked questions highlighting concerns of the middle class, including missing footpaths, overcrowded classrooms, and poor quality of education in BMC-run (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) schools. Hinting at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mr. Raj replied, “Those who are in power do not understand these issues as they have never lived here.”

Responding to a question over education, Mr. Uddhav said that major digital changes have been brought in schools, including tablet-based learning and virtual classrooms. “The BMC has 1,300 schools, where 3.5 lakhs students are pursuing education. Parents queue to get their wards admitted to these schools,” he added.

The MNS chief also spoke about migration and “rampant” encroachment on government land in Mumbai. “Thane alone has multiple municipal corporations as North Indian migration has increased, and this is not just for roji roti, but to create a vote bank,” he said.

Votes, environment and development

Mr. Uddhav said, “They plan to cut down mangroves and replant them in Chandrapur. But will this development help Mumbai? This is not sensible or sustainable. I stopped the Gargai, Pinjal project as I got to know that 6 lakh trees were to be ripped off. But now they have once again resumed the projects for contractors. The protected jungle of Aarey has been damaged for the metro.”

Last week, 68 candidates won unopposed in municipal corporations across the State. Regarding these unopposed elections, Mr. Manjrekar said that voting rights have been confiscated from citizens, while Mr. Uddhav opined that elections should be reorganised in these wards.

In another statement, Mr. Uddhav said, “Just how Donald Trump captured Venezuela’s President, the BJP will capture Mayors of Maharashtra and take them to Surat.”