The Maharashtra government’s order to keep the State open 24/7 has become the focus of a slugfest over who first took the initiative and issued the order. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and its chief Uddhav Thackeray slammed the Mahayuti ruling alliance on Friday (October 3, 2025) for taking “credit.”

Aaditya Thackeray, who is the legislator from Worli, expressed his “amusement” with the BJP order to keep Mumbai open 24/7, as the saffron party had criticised him earlier for a similar decision. “The BJP that (not so long ago) criticised me on ‘culture and safety’ over my ‘Mumbai 24/7’ policy, has reissued a GR for the same,” said Mr. Aaditya.

“I had asked them then, and I ask them now, what’s against our culture in enabling a hard-working city to be able to eat and chill till late? The policy has been in place since January 2020, and BJP leaders had criticised it then,” Mr. Thackeray posted on X, sharing the news clips of his earlier decision.

Mr. Thackeray criticised the government and stated that such a Government Resolution (GR) allowing commercial establishments to remain open 24/7 was not required since the policy has existed since January 2020. On October 1, the State Government issued a GR, permitting commercial establishments to operate 24/7, and mandated that each employee should be allowed 24 hours of rest. Liquor retailers are not included in this order and will operate as before.

During his annual Dussehra rally on Thursday, Uddhav Thackeray also recalled that he sought to permit all night operation, saying the BJP had opposed it then and was today quietly implementing the idea, and taking credit.