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Fadnavis Pledges AI to Track Illegal Bangladeshis, 10,000 Buses for Mumbai

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the Mahayuti alliance's manifesto for the Mumbai civic polls, promising to deploy an AI tool within six months to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshis. He also pledged to add 10,000 new buses to the city's BEST fleet. The announcement comes as elections for 29 municipal corporations, including the BMC, are scheduled for January 15. The political backdrop includes BJP forming an alliance with Congress in Ambernath, drawing criticism from rivals for alleged double standards.

Key Points: Mumbai Civic Polls: Fadnavis Promises AI for Deportations, New Buses

  • AI tool to track illegal Bangladeshis in 6 months
  • Promise of 10,000 new BEST buses
  • BMC elections set for January 15
  • BJP forms alliance with Congress in Ambernath
  • Shiv Sena (UBT) criticizes BJP's "double standards"
2 min read

Mahayuti launches Mumbai civic polls manifesto: Fadnavis promises AI to track illegal Bangladeshis; 10,000 new buses for city

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launches Mahayuti's BMC manifesto, vowing AI to identify illegal Bangladeshis and add 10,000 BEST buses to Mumbai.

"We'll free Mumbai from Bangladeshis... With AI, we'll identify and deport 100% Bangladeshis. - Devendra Fadnavis"

Mumbai, January 11

Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, on Sunday launched the Mahayuti alliance's manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

Addressing the gathering, Fadnavis stated that his government aims to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshis in Mumbai, claiming the highest number have already been deported. He added that an AI tool to track them will be ready in six months and promised the addition of 10,000 BEST buses to the city's roads, criticising previous leaders for failing on these issues.

He said, "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."

The State Election Commission in Maharashtra has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.

On January 8, the 12 suspended Congress corporators from Maharashtra's Ambernath municipal council on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

BJP, in a rare move, entered into an alliance with Congress to gain control over the Ambernath municipal council to keep out its ally Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena won the highest number of 27 seats, just four shy of a majority in the 60-member House. BJP, on the other hand, won 14 seats, Congress won 12, Ajit Pawar's NCP won 4 seats, and two seats went to independent candidates, prompting BJP to ally with Congress and Ajit Pawar's NCP.

BJP also formed a similar alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM and several other parties in the Akot Municipal Council in Akola district.

Following the alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut called out the BJP for "their double standards" of giving a slogan of "Congress-free India" and then entering into an alliance with them to secure a majority in the Ambernath municipal council.

He also criticised the BJP for being in alliance with Ajit Pawar's NCP, stating that Ajit Pawar does not believe in Veer Savarkar's ideology.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Using AI to track people? This is very concerning. What about privacy laws? How will they ensure there are no mistakes? Identifying "100% Bangladeshis" sounds like a slogan, not a practical policy. We need humane solutions, not surveillance. Focus on the buses, that's what the city really needs.
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Vikram M
The political alliances are more interesting than the manifesto! BJP with Congress in Ambernath? And with AIMIM in Akola? 🤔 So much for "Congress-free India". Shows it's all about power, not ideology. Sanjay Raut is right to call out the double standards.
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Ananya R
As a Mumbaikar, my priority is water, roads, and clean streets. If they can improve the bus service and reduce my 2-hour travel time to work, they get my vote. The rest is just political noise before elections. Actions matter, not promises.
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Siddharth J
Illegal immigration is a genuine issue for national security and city resources. If AI can help streamline the legal process for identification and deportation, it's a good step. But the focus should be on due process and not targeting any community unfairly. The bus promise is excellent if implemented well.
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Michael C
Watching from abroad, the promise of 10,000 electric buses would be a massive environmental win for a city like Mumbai. Hope they are electric or hybrid. The AI tracking narrative is worrying and could lead to profiling. Civic issues should be about service delivery, not divisive politics.

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