BJP leader K. Annamalai and MNS chief Raj Thackeray have engaged in a public war of words concerning Mumbai's identity and political control. The exchange occurred amid heightened tensions leading up to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, with both leaders making strong statements about the city's politics and the role of non-Marathi speakers. This dispute has intensified political discourse in Maharashtra, particularly impacting Marathi voter sentiment and the BJP's regional strategy.