Bhojpuri songs at train stations: Raj accuses BJP of inciting conflict in Maharashtra
MNS chief Raj Thackeray has accused the BJP of attempting to incite communal conflict in Maharashtra by exploiting the Chhath Puja festival. The controversy stems from the playing of Bhojpuri songs at Mumbai railway stations, which Thackeray claims is a political maneuver ahead of upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections.
Why it matters
This highlights ongoing regional political tensions in India regarding cultural identity and the influence of national political parties on local state dynamics.
Mumbai MNS president Raj Thackeray on Friday (November 13, 2026) accused the BJP of making desperate attempts to incite conflict in Mumbai, which has a sizeable North Indian population, and Maharashtra by exploiting the Chhath Puja issue ahead of the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uttar-pradesh/uttar-pradesh-elections-samajwadi-party-to-release-election-manifesto-on-november-26/article71603514.ece His remarks come two days after a controversy erupted over playing Bhojpuri songs at some Mumbai railway stations ahead of the festival. The move drew criticism and raised questions over the use of railway announcement systems for cultural events.
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