Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 25: In his first address after taking charge as the newly appointed Mumbai BJP president, Ameet Satam struck a combative tone, vowing to protect the city’s identity and ensure the installation of a Mahayuti-led administration in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). With civic polls looming, Satam declared that “any attempt to change the colour of Mumbai” would be strongly resisted, framing the upcoming battle for the BMC as both political and cultural.

Speaking to the media after receiving his appointment letter from Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan, Satam pledged to work towards hoisting the “saffron flag” atop the BMC and securing a BJP-led Mayor for the country’s richest civic body.

Satam reiterated concerns he had raised during the Monsoon Session of the state legislature, alleging that a concerted conspiracy was underway to polarise Mumbai and alter its social and political character. Without naming parties, he claimed that a “Khan might soon become mayor,” describing it as part of a broader agenda of vote-bank politics and identity shifts in the city.

Outlining his key priorities, Satam placed infrastructure, mobility, housing, and above all, the safety and security of Mumbaikars at the core of his vision. “While Mumbai continues to develop, our focus will be on ensuring the well-being and protection of its citizens,” he said, referencing what he described as large-scale attempts to dilute the city’s identity.

He praised the developmental strides made under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis since 2014, citing landmark projects like the Coastal Road, Atal Setu, Metro lines, Navi Mumbai International Airport, city-wide CCTV surveillance, and housing schemes for slum dwellers and low-income groups.
Satam also launched a sharp attack on the BMC’s past administrations, alleging corruption to the tune of Rs 3 lakh crore between 1997 and 2022. He vowed to cleanse the civic body of graft and implement a transparent, accountable administration aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.

“The BJP will make every effort to liberate Mumbai’s civic administration from decades of corruption. Our karyakartas will reach out to every Mumbaikar, seeking support for a development-driven, corruption-free governance model,” he declared.

Satam’s appointment comes at a politically crucial moment, with the BJP and its Mahayuti allies aiming to end the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s long-held dominance over the BMC in the upcoming elections.