The Karnataka BJP on Friday launched a sharp "rasmalai" offensive against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, following a dominant performance by the BJP-led alliance in the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Buoyed by the results in Mumbai, BJP leaders in Karnataka expressed confidence that the electoral momentum would carry over to the state's upcoming local body polls, particularly within the five newly formed city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).

"Ordered some rasmalai. #BMCResults," Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan posted on the social media platform X.

Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya echoed the sentiment, characterising the outcome as a "sweet rasmalai" victory for the Mumbai BJP. Congratulating Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and party activists, Surya wrote, "The Triple Engine Sarkar, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, will work strongly for Mumbai's redevelopment and improve Ease of living for all Mumbaikars."

The "rasmalai" jibes refer to a heated campaign controversy involving former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai. During the lead-up to the polls, Annamalai had asserted that "Mumbai is not a Maharashtra city but an international city." Thackeray retaliated by mocking Annamalai as "rasmalai" and questioning his standing to comment on Mumbai's identity.

Electoral Implications

The BMC elections, held on Thursday after a nine-year hiatus, saw the BJP and its ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, secure a comfortable lead across the 227 wards as counting progressed on Friday.

Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra described the outcome as a "resounding verdict" that reflects public trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and the governance of CM Fadnavis.

"This mandate clearly captures the public mood and will be repeated in Karnataka when our State's local bodies go to the polls," Vijayendra said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka also expressed optimism that the victory would influence the upcoming GBA elections. "I am confident that in the upcoming GBA elections, the people of Namma Bengaluru will bless Karnataka BJP and give us the opportunity to serve the city with dedication, integrity, and a clear vision for the future," he posted.

Bengaluru Poll Timeline

The Supreme Court has mandated that the Karnataka government and the state election commission complete the long-delayed Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.

The city’s previous elected body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), saw its term expire in September 2020. In September 2025, the city's governance was restructured, dividing Bengaluru into five distinct municipal corporations: Central, East, West, North, and South, all operating under the unified Greater Bengaluru Authority.

With inputs from PTI