Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray criticized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's Hindu Marathi campaign, asserting "We are Hindus, not Hindi" and demanding a Marathi mayor for Mumbai. He invoked historical context and warned against imposing a specific identity, emphasizing Maharashtra's distinctiveness. Thackeray also criticized the BJP's unopposed election wins in Maharashtra and cautioned against manipulating the state's democratic fabric, drawing parallels to other regions.