Ganesh Kendale
MUMBAI: All roads lead to Shivaji Park this poll season. With the assembly elections on Nov 20 and the campaign ending on Nov 18 at 5 pm according to the model code of conduct, Dadar‘s iconic ground is in high demand for a rally on Nov 17. Four parties – the Shiv Sena, Sena (UBT), BJP and MNS – have made applications to the BMC to host rallies that day. The MNS has claimed that since it applied first, it must be given permission.
Senior civic officials said that BMC has received the four applications.”We will send the requests to the state urban development department and the Election Commission (EC). Further action will be taken based on the decision made by them,” said an official.
In 2022 and 2023, both the Sena (UBT) and Shinde Sena had applied to hold their Dussehra rally. In 2022, the BMC rejected permissions for both factions, and eventually, the Bombay HC quashed the BMC’s order and allowed the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena to hold its rally at Shivaji Park. The HC had then observed that the BMC misused its powers in deciding the application of petitioners. The court further directed the Uddhav-led faction to approach BMC ward officers with the order and seek permission afresh as per the GR of 2016.
In 2023, the Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde pulled out of the battle with the Sena (UBT) to hold the party’s Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. This year, the Sena led by Shinde didn’t apply for Shivaji Park for its Dussehra rally and instead held it at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai.
In March this year, the INDIA bloc held its rally at Shivaji Park ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi addressed the rally. MNS candidates were not contesting the LS polls but the party got permission for Shivaji Park for a rally on 17 May and with MNS supporting PM Modi, the Mahayuti held its rally there.
