BJP's "UP Card" Sparks Marathi vs. North Indian Debate in Mumbai Civic Polls

• BJP fields significant North Indian candidates in Mumbai, Thane, Mira Bhayandar, and other civic bodies, sparking a "Marathi vs. North Indian" debate.
• BJP leader Krupashankar Singh's statement about a North Indian mayor in Mira Bhayandar intensified the linguistic divide.
• MNS-Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) alliance focuses on 99% Marathi candidates, contrasting with BJP's diverse linguistic slate.
• BJP's candidate strategy reflects a focus on vote banks, fielding candidates based on linguistic group dominance in specific areas.
• Statistics show BJP fielded 15 North Indians in Mumbai, 14 in Mira Bhayandar, 10 in Ulhasnagar, and others across various corporations.

Why It Matters: BJP's North Indian candidate strategy in civic polls fuels linguistic debate, aiming for diverse vote banks.