Mumbai’s ‘Marathi Takka’ After 25 Years of Power: Identity Awakening or Political Tool?

Mumbai is often described as India’s financial capital, yet a growing debate over the city’s shrinking “Marathi percentage” has returned to the political spotlight. After nearly 25 years of Shiv Sena rule in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, a central question remains unresolved: did this long tenure strengthen the position of Marathi residents in Mumbai, or did it leave them facing deeper economic and social insecurity?

For many observers, this issue now goes beyond party politics. Among large sections of Marathi youth, it is closely tied to everyday realities—affordable housing, stable employment and a sense of belonging in a city that has rapidly transformed. While the memory of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and the sacrifice of 106 martyrs continues to shape emotional narratives, the lived experience of many Marathi families in today’s Mumbai tells a more complicated story.

Shifting political mood and Marathi identity

As civic elections approach, political parties have once again revived familiar rhetoric about protecting Mumbai’s Marathi identity. Leaders speak of defending the “Marathi manoos,” but voter sentiment appears more restless than before. Families that supported Shiv Sena for decades are increasingly questioning whether promises on jobs, education and permanent housing were fulfilled.

This shift is evident across the city. Older residents recall assurances of secure homes and priority in municipal employment. Younger commuters, spending hours each day on overcrowded local trains, speak instead about rising rents, contractual jobs and limited access to quality public education. Whether this dissatisfaction will translate into changed voting patterns remains uncertain, but the frustration is unmistakable.

Economic power and access to civic contracts

A major concern in the debate is economic participation. The BMC controls an annual budget exceeding ₹50,000 crore, amounting to several lakh crore rupees over 25 years. Critics question how many Marathi entrepreneurs or contractors actually benefited from this massive public spending.

Large infrastructure projects—roads, drainage systems and bridges—generate significant contract opportunities. However, allegations persist that tendering processes favoured a small group of established players. Many Marathi contractors and young engineers claim they struggled to enter the system, while analysts note that although Marathi workers dominate small street-level businesses, they remain largely absent from the top tier of civic contracts.

Mill lands and the changing city

The transformation of central Mumbai has also reshaped the Marathi presence. Areas such as Lalbaug, Parel, Dadar, Sewri and Girgaum were once the cultural heart of the city, built around textile mills that employed generations of Marathi workers. These neighbourhoods fostered strong linguistic and cultural bonds through chawls, theatre, festivals and trade unions.

Housing pressure and long commutes

Today, a large number of Marathi workers live in Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts while continuing to work in Mumbai. Daily travel of four to five hours has become routine, leaving little time for family life or community engagement.

Critics argue that affordable housing policies under the Sena-led civic administration were either insufficient or poorly implemented. Redevelopment produced taller buildings but also higher living costs. Many original tenants say they could not afford maintenance charges in new complexes, effectively pushing them out of the city, while developers emerged as the primary beneficiaries.

Language, education and symbolic politics

The debate over Marathi identity also extends to language and education. Slogans celebrating Marathi pride have long featured in election campaigns, yet education experts point to the declining condition of BMC-run Marathi-medium schools as a major failure.

Enrollment in civic Marathi schools reportedly fell over the years, while private English-medium schools expanded rapidly. Critics argue that Marathi was promoted more as an emotional symbol than as a language of opportunity, forcing urban parents to choose English education as the only viable path for upward mobility.

A performance review before elections

While supporters credit Uddhav Thackeray with improving infrastructure, flyovers and city aesthetics, assessments focused on the Marathi community paint a less positive picture. Employment prospects, educational outcomes and representation in high-value economic sectors remain areas of concern.

Among Marathi youth, a common sentiment is that emotional speeches do not address daily economic struggles. Allegations related to commissions and personal enrichment have further weakened trust. Political analysts believe a section of Marathi voters may now reassess long-standing loyalties, though the real impact will be clear only after the next civic polls.

For critics, the decline in Mumbai’s Marathi population is more than a demographic trend. It represents a broader failure to preserve space, opportunity and dignity for the community whose struggle secured Mumbai for Maharashtra. As election campaigns intensify, Uddhav Thackeray is likely to face persistent scrutiny over whether his party’s long civic rule truly protected and empowered Marathi residents in the city.