Sanjay Raut slams Fadnavis govt over Mumbai's crumbling monsoon infrastructure
Synopsis
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused the Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government of systemic corruption behind Mumbai’s monsoon infrastructure failures, claiming the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link had ‘collapsed’ and that contractors had pre-paid 30–35% commissions. His counter-attack on BJP’s BMC record — pointing to four-and-a-half years of administrator rule — flips the accountability argument on its head.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay Raut on 6 July attacked the Devendra Fadnavis -led Mahayuti government over Mumbai’s deteriorating monsoon infrastructure.
Raut claimed the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link had ‘collapsed’, contradicting the CM’s assertion of only two potholes.
He alleged contractors had paid 30–35 per cent advance commissions on government development projects.
Raut pointed out that the BMC has been under a state-appointed administrator for the past four-and-a-half years , challenging BJP’s criticism of earlier civic governance.
He also alleged scams in the Mithi river clean-up, the Statue of Unity construction, and funds linked to Ram Temple , Kedarnath , and Badrinath .
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut on Monday, 6 July launched a sharp offensive against the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government, alleging widespread corruption behind Mumbai's deteriorating infrastructure amid the ongoing monsoon. Raut's broadside covered pothole-ridden expressways, alleged contractor kickbacks, civic mismanagement, and what he called the looting of public projects.
Missing Link Collapse and Pothole Controversy
“The Chief Minister claims only two potholes have formed on the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link. He should go and see today — the Missing Link hasn’t just got potholes, it has collapsed!” Raut charged. He alleged the deterioration was “the result of pure corruption and commission-seeking,” claiming contractors had already paid “30–35 per cent advance commissions” on development projects.
Raut also called on Chief Minister Fadnavis and the Deputy Chief Minister to personally tour the city in raincoats to witness what he described as the true condition of India’s financial capital. “They beat the drums of development, but if the people of this state want to see the extreme level of brokerage and commissions under the guise of development, they should visit the Missing Link,” he said.
Jibe at Eknath Shinde and BJP Leadership
In a pointed remark, Raut alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had been hospitalised at Jupiter Hospital due to what he sarcastically described as “an indigestion of development.”
Raut also targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership over local tragedies, alleging that the Mumbai BJP ex-mayor was attending a builder’s baby shower celebration even as six people had died the previous day. “A ‘Duryodhana-style’ rule has been established in Maharashtra by Devendra Fadnavis and the Shinde faction,” he claimed.
BMC Under Administrator: Raut's Counter-Attack
Responding to BJP’s criticism of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) performance under the Thackeray-MNS combine over 25 years, Raut turned the argument around. He pointed out that the BMC has been under direct state-appointed administrative control — effectively under the ruling dispensation — for the past four-and-a-half years.
“Forget the 25 years, speak about your last four-and-a-half years! They complain about Congress’ 70-year rule, but you have been in power for 12 years now,” he said. Raut alleged that the Mithi river clean-up was “a massive ongoing scam” whose beneficiaries were contractors linked to the BJP, and accused the government of handing large projects to select industrialists.
Allegations Over Temple Projects and Statue of Unity
Raut extended his attack to religious and heritage projects, alleging that funds meant for the Ram Temple, Kedarnath, and Badrinath were being misappropriated by BJP-linked individuals. “History states that Mughals looted Hindu temples. The BJP won votes by claiming to be the protectors of temples. But today, the thieves looting the Ram Temple, Kedarnath, and Badrinath belong to the BJP,” he charged.
He also alleged a multi-crore scam in the construction of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, though he did not provide documentary evidence for the claim. All allegations by Raut are his own and have not been independently verified.
The Mahayuti government has not issued an official response to Raut’s specific charges as of the time of reporting. With the monsoon intensifying and civic grievances mounting, the political battle over Mumbai’s infrastructure is likely to sharpen in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
He converts an abstract corruption narrative into something every Mumbai commuter can see. The four-and-a-half-year BMC administrator argument is his strongest card — it squarely places civic accountability on the ruling dispensation, making the standard ‘25 years of Thackeray rule’ deflection harder to sustain. What’s missing is documentary evidence; without it, the scam allegations — on Mithi river, Statue of Unity, temple funds — remain political charges rather than investigable claims. The Mahayuti government’s silence, if it persists, may itself become a story as monsoon damage compounds.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sanjay Raut say about Mumbai's infrastructure during the monsoon?
Raut alleged that Mumbai’s infrastructure has collapsed under the Mahayuti government, citing the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link as a prime example. He called on Chief Minister Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde to personally tour the city to witness the damage.
What is the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link controversy?
The Mumbai-Pune Missing Link is a road project that Chief Minister Fadnavis claimed had developed only two potholes. Raut contradicted this, alleging the structure had effectively collapsed and attributing it to contractor corruption and advance commission payments of 30–35 per cent.
What is Raut's argument against BJP's criticism of BMC governance?
Raut countered that the BMC has been under a state-appointed administrator — effectively under the ruling dispensation’s control — for the past four-and-a-half years, placing direct accountability for civic failures on the Mahayuti government rather than previous administrations.
Who is Sanjay Raut and which party does he represent?
Sanjay Raut is a Member of Parliament and senior leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), the faction led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. He is one of the most vocal opposition voices in Maharashtra politics.
Has the Mahayuti government responded to Raut's allegations?
As of the time of reporting, the Mahayuti government had not issued an official response to Raut’s specific charges regarding the Missing Link, BMC mismanagement, or the corruption allegations he raised.
