CM Fadnavis selling Mumbai’s open land to BJP MLAs and friend: Aaditya Thackeray
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader’s call for a protest comes after the BMC general house approved the conversion of the land reservation of Neville Dsouza turf into a convention centre on August 19
On August 20, 2026, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of selling open land parcels in Mumbai to BJP MLAs and friends. Thackeray called for a protest on August 23, 2026, at Neville Dsouza Football Ground in Bandra, urging Mumbaikars from all political backgrounds to join the demonstration.
Fadnavis allegedly gifted a field and two additional plots in Andheri to a BJP MLA for ₹21 lakh per year, while the Neville Dsouza Football Ground would be renamed after the BJP leader. The controversy also surrounds the conversion of land reservations for the Neville Dsouza turf into a convention center and the leasing of MHADA-owned plots in Juhu and D.N.
Nagar (Andheri), totaling 4 acres, as well as the BMC-owned 12-acre Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex in Andheri (West), under a Public-Private Partnership model. Additionally, the Mulund Sports Complex is being leased to a petrol pump. Fadnavis criticized the BJP for wanting control of the BMC to privatize everything in Mumbai, stating that they would mark the sea as open space and declare a lack of open space in the city.
Thackeray appealed to Mumbaikars to participate in the protest, emphasizing that "No party flags will be brought."
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