ThePrint CutTheClutter: Allies compete, rivals unite: Significance of Maharashtra civic polls, & India's miserable cities
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Jan 14, 2026 Mansi Fadke, Deputy Editor at ThePrint and an expert on Mumbai and Maharashtra politics, dives into the upcoming high-stakes civic polls. She highlights how alliances are shifting as rivals unite while allies compete for power. Mansi discusses the significance of the BMC's vast budget and the importance of controlling local agencies for infrastructure dominance. The intricate dynamics of the Shiv Sena, particularly Uddhav Thackeray's strategy to regain influence, and the evolving role of demographics and nativism in these elections make for a riveting listen.
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Urban Policy Lagged Behind Rural Focus
- Historic political priorities focused on rural development left urban planning an afterthought for decades.
- Gupta argues this institutional bias produced chaotic, unplanned cities where only government residential areas stayed orderly.
State Capitals Inside Big Cities Hurt Governance
- Housing state capitals inside the largest cities reduced local autonomy and impaired city governance.
- Gupta suggests relocating some capitals might improve municipal focus and planning.
Why BMC Is Politically High Stakes
- The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is India's richest civic body with a huge budget and control over major projects.
- Mansi Fadke explains controlling BMC gives parties access to large contracts and patronage.