In a major play for control of Mumbai’s civic body, the Mahayuti alliance has launched a tech-heavy manifesto centered on modernization, social welfare, and a strict stance on illegal migration. At the heart of the campaign is a promise to transform Mumbai into a “global powerhouse” by integrating advanced technology into the city’s day-to-day administration.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, representing the BJP-Shiv Sena-RPI(A) coalition, positioned the alliance as the antidote to what he described as two and a half decades of administrative stagnation. A standout feature of the proposal is the “Municipality on your Mobile” initiative, which aims to bring all essential civic services directly to residents’ smartphones. The alliance plans to leverage “Japanese technology” to address long-standing infrastructure and service issues, signaling a shift toward high-tech urban management.
To tackle the persistent problem of corruption, the Mahayuti has proposed the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to oversee clearances and service delivery. Specifically, the manifesto outlines an AI-driven platform designed to accelerate building approvals, a move intended to bring transparency to the real estate sector and eliminate bureaucratic delays.
On the social front, the alliance is courting female voters with the promise of a 50 percent concession on fares for the BEST bus network, the city’s primary public transit system. This move mirrors successful regional transport subsidies and aims to lower the cost of living for women across the metropolis.
The manifesto also takes a firm political stance on internal security and demographics, explicitly pledging to “free” the city of illegal Bangladeshi migrants. By combining these hardline policies with progressive tech solutions and transit subsidies, the Mahayuti is attempting to build a broad-based appeal as they seek to end the long-standing dominance of the opposition in the municipal corporation.Mumbai
