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Mumbai

Post-Truth Politics

The outcome of the municipal polls in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, could determine the broader political dynamics within the state and shape the outcome of subsequent state and national elections.

By Taha Kehar | May 2025


Billed as Mumbai’s governing body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is a cash-rich entity and is arguably one of the richest urban authorities in the country. The polls to elect councillors for the civic body were originally planned for 2022, but they were postponed owing to the Supreme Court’s decision on reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and ward delimitation. The election was later scheduled for April 2025.

A potent civic body, the corporation oversees crucial services, such as waste management, water supply, education, and healthcare. Those who control the entity have garnered considerable political influence in Maharashtra. As a result, the outcome of the polls could determine the broader political dynamics within the state and even shape the outcome of subsequent state and national elections.

Between 1997 and 2022, the Shiv Sena led the BMC, oftentimes in coalition with other parties. However, the party is now divided into two factions. The Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) has announced its decision to contest the polls as part of an alliance, which also includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Congress Party. Former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who now heads the Shiv Sena (UBT), plans to contest the polls independently in a relentless effort to prove that he is the rightful heir of Bal Thackeray’s legacy. This schism has complicated the Shiv Sena’s position with respect to the BMC.

Be that as it may, municipal polls aren’t accorded the same stature as state or national elections, and voters are likely to remain apathetic towards them. This can be attributed to the fact that issues pertaining to local governance aren’t as urgent as those linked to broader concerns of statecraft. Some voters may also find themselves disenchanted by endless political campaigns or the perceived lack of trust in candidates.

Even so, recent developments in Maharashtra may have drummed up some interest in the BMC elections, albeit temporarily. The long-standing controversy surrounding the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb has once again assumed center-stage and may reawaken communal sentiments among the electorate.

Situated in Khuldabad, in the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district, the deceased emperor’s tomb has often been the subject of considerable debate. If news reports are to serve as a gauge, the divisive issue was revived following the release of an Indian film titled Chhaava. The film depicts the life and times of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was put to death by Aurangzeb in 1689. For centuries after his demise, the Mughal emperor has continually become the poster child of ‘Hinduphobia’. Aurangzeb has also been accused of ordering the demolition of Hindu temples. Few among the emperor’s detractors have made a conscientious effort to holistically appraise his legacy, let alone recognize the role of the British colonialists in his vilification.


Amid this politically charged climate, Samajwadi Party MP Abu Azmi’s laudatory remarks about the Mughal emperor fanned the controversy, drawing the ire of the right-wing political groups. Several right-wing politicians subsequently demanded the demolition of Aurangzeb’s tomb. Hindu nationalist groups, such as the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), took to the streets in Nagpur, Pune, Malegaon, and other cities. A ‘mock tomb’ was destroyed by the VHP in Kolhapur while protesters shouted slogans in favour of Lord Ram.

Both factions of the Shiv Sena might use the controversy surrounding Mughal emperor Aurangzeb to generate moral panics about a perceived threat to the Hindu culture and identity from an illusory ‘other.’

While these demonstrations may remind some of the chaotic events surrounding the demolition of the Babri Masjid, it is unlikely that the emperor’s final resting place can be done away with so easily. It is listed under the Archaeological Survey of India as a “monument of national Importance” and, therefore, cannot be demolished.

At this critical juncture, this controversy is part of a foolproof strategy in Indian politics to revive divisive sentiments about religion and culture. Post-truth politics has become an indelible feature of India’s governance structure. Eschewing facts in favor of emotional appeals, the country’s right-wing political factions have allowed post-truthism to seep into the polity. The upcoming polls to elect councillors for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should be insulated from this scourge. Both factions of the Shiv Sena might use the controversy surrounding Aurangzeb to generate moral panics about a perceived threat to the Hindu culture and identity from an illusory ‘other’. Aurangzeb’s divisive image might provide the BJP with yet another excuse to rail against the oppressive nature of the Mughal legacy. Using this matter to its advantage, the BJP may also be able to appeal to voters who wish to preserve a culture that is perceived to be in danger.

While this controversy might generate interest among the electorate about the BMC elections, it cannot be invoked for long. Not all voters are swayed easily by divisive politics rooted in age-old religious conflicts. Many serious voters are concerned about how political parties will address their immediate concerns, such as unemployment, infrastructural concerns, and inflation. Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city where ideological battles don’t always take precedence over finding pragmatic solutions to complex urban problems.

The debate surrounding the Mughal emperor may fleetingly draw voters towards the BMC polls. However, post-truth politics cannot determine the outcome of an election wherein good governance remains the sole priority.

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