Sanjay Raut's "Mumbai Shutdown In 10 Minutes" Claim Gets Devendra Fadnavis Response | Read

The Thackerays can still shut down Mumbai within minutes, Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut has warned, echoing the might of one of Maharashtra's most powerful families that has remained ingrained in the state's politics despite electoral setbacks. "The Thackerays can never be wiped out. We can still shut down Mumbai in 10 minutes," the Rajya Sabha MP said at NDTV Power Play this morning.

Speaking at the same event an hour later, Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis played down the Sena (UBT) leader's "empty threats." "They said they won't let Eknath Shinde enter Mumbai. But he came with 50 MLAs and went to Raj Bhavan and formed the government. When Bal Thackeray was alive, it (a shutdown) could happen. But these guys can't do it anymore," Fadnavis said.

Raut's remark followed the reunion of the Thackeray cousins -- Uddhav and Raj -- after a gap of 20 long years ahead of the high-stakes election to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC Election 2026).