'Deva or divine? I am also called one...': Fadnavis jabs at Uddhav’s ‘God willing’ Mayor remark after BMC loss

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis with Deputy CM Eknath Shinde

• Fadnavis joked about Thackeray's "God willing" mayor remark, linking "Deva" to him.
• Mahayuti alliance won BMC control, ending Shiv Sena's nearly 30-year rule
• Shiv Sena (UBT) now largest opposition with 65 seats in 227-member House

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday delivered a sharp, tongue-in-cheek response to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s post-poll remark that his party could still get the Mumbai mayor’s post “if God willing”, quipping that it was unclear whether “Deva” meant the Almighty or himself.

Reacting to Thackeray’s statement, Fadnavis said, “What does ‘Deva’ mean? Me or God? Because I am also called Deva (Deva Bhau)…. It is indeed the will of the Almighty that the Mayor will be from the Mahayuti.”

He added that the final call would rest with the ruling alliance. “Who will become the Mayor, when the Mayor will be elected, where it will be decided, and for how many years all these decisions will be taken collectively by me, Eknath Shinde, and our party leaders. There is no dispute whatsoever on this,” he said.

Thackeray had made the “God willing” comment during his first public interaction with party workers after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election results.

“It’s my dream to install a Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor in Mumbai, and if God is willing, this dream will be realised,” he said. He also rejected suggestions that his party had been finished politically. “The BJP couldn’t finish off Shiv Sena (UBT) on the ground,” he told workers, claiming that the saffron party “could not buy loyalty.”

Taking aim at the BJP and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thackeray said, “They (BJP) have registered victory through betrayal for mortgaging Mumbai. Marathi Manoos will never forgive this sin. The battle has not ended, but it has just begun.”

Referring to the split in Shiv Sena three years ago, he added that “traitors” should reflect on “what a sin they have committed.”

At a later press conference, Thackeray alleged misuse of state machinery and claimed the BJP was strong only “on paper and not on the streets.”

He also referred to polling-day controversies, alleging that indelible ink could be wiped off and that opposition candidates were lured or threatened.

The remarks came a day after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance wrested control of the BMC, ending nearly three decades of rule by the undivided Shiv Sena led by the Thackerays.

In the 227-member House, the alliance crossed the majority mark of 114 seats, with the BJP winning 89 and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena securing 29.

Shiv Sena (UBT) emerged as the single largest opposition party with 65 seats, while its allies and other parties shared the remaining seats.