Breaking away from the tradition of celebrating election victories with boxes of sweets, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis marked the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) triumph with a distinctly Mumbai-style gesture on Friday

‘Mumbaicha vada’ at BJP headquarters

At the BJP’s state headquarters in Nariman Point, Fadnavis fed Mumbaicha vada—the iconic batata vada—to party state president Ravindra Chavan, drawing loud cheers from party workers. The moment stood out for its simplicity and cultural resonance.

BJP spokesperson Niranjan Shetty described the celebration as a tribute to Mumbai’s soul. “Mumbai’s identity—batata vada—freshly fried at our party head office by our beloved Musale-kaka, who has served here for 40 years, became part of our celebration. Everyone celebrates with sweets; this reflects our love for Mumbai,” he said.

Preparations began early

The party’s head office canteen swung into action well before results were declared. Knowing batata vada is among the Chief Minister’s favourite snacks, preparations were made in advance.

Shripad Gangadhar Musale, who oversaw the kitchen, said he fried 980 batata vadas and prepared around 7.5 kg of pineapple sheera for supporters. “We were confident of victory. A satisfied stomach leads to happy and productive minds,” he remarked.

Mahayuti’s decisive BMC win

The celebration followed the Mahayuti alliance’s strong performance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. Crossing the majority mark of 114 seats, the alliance sealed victory in polls held on Thursday.

The BJP emerged as the single largest party, winning 90 of the 118 seats secured by the Mahayuti, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party.

A celebration with local flavour

As news of the win spread, hundreds of supporters gathered at the Nariman Point office to congratulate Fadnavis and senior leaders. Amid slogans and smiles, the aroma of freshly fried vadas filled the air—making the celebration memorable not for extravagance, but for its unmistakably Mumbai flavour.

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