Mumbai is for all, say Mumbaikars

Mumbai has spoken and it says that the city is for all. 'Mood of Mumbai' poll, which is the first in-depth attempt to understand the impact of Raj Thackeray's dissident organization, the Maharastra Navnirman Sena's street violence, on the city.


The opinion poll reveals that when Mumbaikars were asked to define the identity of a local, almost 60 per cent said that any one who lives in Maharashtra and Mumbai is a local.

As for the perception that Maharashtrians are selective about low-end jobs which go to north Indians like driving taxis, selling milk and vegetables again, almost 60 per cent agreed with the observation.

Ironically, even Maharashtrians agree that they are picky about low-end jobs. A majority of Mumbaikars, nearly the same percentage, and north Indians in particular agreed, on the much-debated question that the Congress-NCP is being soft on Raj Thackeray.

"Yes there could be this perception," said Sanjay Nirupam, Congress Leader.

The NDTV-DNA poll shows that many have felt that Raj's campaign has little to do with the Marathi cause. Instead, it is an attempt to seize the title of the real leader of the Marathi 'manoos' from his cousin Uddhav Thackeray.

The strategy, the poll suggests seems to have worked. Almost 60 per cent Maharashtrians feel Raj is the real leader of Mumbai's Marathis compared to only 23 per cent who support Uddhav.

"I do not agree with this because the people of Maharashtra do not only belong or reside in Mumbai. They reside all over Maharashtra," said Rahul Narvekar, a Mumbai resident.

And so according to the findings of the NDTV-DNA opinion poll, while Mumbai has not embraced Raj's divisive politics, he seems to have made gains in his core base. It is something that will be put to test very soon in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

The poll sampled about 1500 Mumbaikars, and was conducted between November 3 and November 5