‘I’ll come to Mumbai, try cutting my legs’: Annamalai hits back at Raj Thackeray

The slanging match between Bharatiya Janata Party leader in Tamil Nadu, K Annamalai and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray does not seem to be winding up soon. The major political parties of the state are at loggerheads ahead of the upcoming BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) polls.

At a press conference in Chennai on Monday, Annamalai slammed Raj Thackeray for allegedly abusing him. “Who are Aaditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to threaten me? I am proud to be a farmer’s son. They have organised meetings just to abuse me. I don’t know whether I have become that important,” Annamalai said.

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Annamalai dares MNS leader

The controversy erupted after the BJP leader spoke on Mumbai’s issue, and allegedly suggested that it is “not a Maharashtra city,” during a campaign in Dharavi and Sion Koliwada areas of the city.

He also suggested that the city needs a triple-engine government, with a BJP mayor in Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre. He added, “Mumbai is a global metropolis that has a budget of over Rs 40,000 crore. Bengaluru’s budget is Rs 19,000 crore, while Chennai’s is Rs 8,000 crore. You need good people who sit in the administration to manage the finance.”

Amid the controversy, the BJP leader has also alleged that he has received multiple threats. “Some have written that they will cut my legs if I come to Mumbai. I will come to Mumbai–try cutting my legs. If I were afraid of such threats, I would have stayed in my village,” he said.

In response to comments by Raj Thackeray, Annamalai referred to him as “ignorant leader.” He said, “If I say Kamaraj is one of India’s greatest leaders, does it mean he is no longer a Tamil? If I say Mumbai is a world-class city, does it mean Maharashtrians didn’t build it? These people are just ignorant.”

The fight over Mumbai

In a joint UBT-MNS rally in Mumbai, Raj Thackeray had mocked Annamalai and allegedly referred to me as ‘rasmalai.’ “One rasmalai came from Tamil Nadu…what is your connection to here? Hatao lungi bajao pungi,” Raj Thackeray had said. The MNS leader had also questioned Annamalai’s position in the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also joined the war of words today. He said that such statements clearly reflect the party’s intent to “loot” the state. He asserted that the state will not tolerate any insult. He said, “Annamalai is the face of the BJP, which is zero. He could not win there and save their own deposit. It was shown that the next PM will be him only, but actually, they are a Zero that Tamil Nadu has shown… Annamalai has insulted Maharashtra, and the state will not tolerate this. Annamalai and the BJP have insulted Maharashtra,” Thackeray told reporters here in Mumbai.

#WATCH | Mumbai | On MNS Chief Raj Thackeray’s remarks against BJP leader K Annamalai, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray says, “… Annamalai is close to zero in the BJP. He couldn’t even save his deposit and lost his seat, and pretends as if he is the next Prime Minister.… pic.twitter.com/FE2LRZB7L4

— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2026