BMC Elections: Fadnavis promises AI tracking of illegal Bangladeshis, 10,000 BEST buses as Mahayuti unveils manifesto

Fadnavis stated that his government aims to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshis in Mumbai, claiming the highest number have already been deported.

• Mahayuti alliance released manifesto for upcoming BMC elections in Mumbai
• AI-based system to track illegal immigrants in Mumbai to be ready in six months
• BJP allies with Congress, NCP in Ambernath council for majority

Did our AI summary help?

Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde, on Sunday released the Mahayuti alliance’s manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Addressing party workers and supporters, Fadnavis said his government was committed to identifying and deporting illegal Bangladeshi nationals from Mumbai, claiming that the highest number of deportations have already taken place under his watch. He announced that an artificial intelligence-based system to track illegal immigrants would be ready within six months and also promised a major expansion of the city’s public transport fleet.

“We’ll free Mumbai from Bangladeshis. We’ve deported the highest so far. With AI, we’ll identify and deport 100% Bangladeshis. AI tool will be ready in six months. Soon, there will be 10,000 BEST buses on the roads. We’ll identify and deport illegal Bangladeshis. Don’t worry about those leaders who’ve failed,” Fadnavis said.

The State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling is scheduled for January 15, with counting to be held the next day.

The political churn ahead of the local body elections has also seen shifts in alliances. On January 8, 12 suspended Congress corporators from the Ambernath municipal council joined the BJP. In a rare move, the BJP entered into an understanding with the Congress and Ajit Pawar’s NCP to gain control of the Ambernath council and keep out its ally Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.

In the 60-member Ambernath council, the Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats, falling short of a majority. The BJP won 14 seats, Congress 12, Ajit Pawar’s NCP four, while two seats went to independents, leading to the unusual post-poll arrangement.

The BJP also forged a similar alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and other parties in the Akot Municipal Council in Akola district.

Reacting to these developments, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused the BJP of “double standards”, pointing to its slogan of a “Congress-free India” while partnering with the party to secure a majority in Ambernath. He also took aim at the BJP’s alliance with Ajit Pawar’s NCP, claiming that Pawar does not subscribe to Veer Savarkar’s ideology.