6 days Ago By Chaitanya Marpakwar
Sena (UBT) alleged Mahayuti & MNS “cartel” blocked Shivaji Park dates MUMBAI: Even though MNS cancelled its rally at Shivaji Park on Sunday, the state urban development (UD) department has not given permission to the Shiv Sena (UBT) for its rally at the ground. So now, the MVA will hold its final rally in BKC on Sunday. Sena (UBT) alleged that the Mahayuti parties , Sena, BJP and NCP, along with the MNS, formed a cartel to block dates in Shivaji Park to ensure that the Sena (UBT) did not get permission to hold its rally there.
With just a day remaining for getting permission and the UD department not giving it, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Friday said since only a day remained, it was not possible for MNS to organise the rally. Raj said the MNS would hold meetings and visits in other assembly segments in Mumbai and Thane instead. With the MNS out of the fray, Shiv Sena (UBT) was the only party that sought permission for Shivaji Park on Nov 17.
"Since the UD department has not given us permission, we are going to hold our rally in BKC. Preparations are underway, and we will have a mega MVA rally. The Mahayuti and MNS formed a cartel to block the dates for Shivaji Park.
This is unfair and amounts to cheating. We will take up this issue with the EC. Technically, since MNS cancelled their rally, we should have got the permission.
Permission for MNS was already given by BMC and UD, so there was no need for giving fresh permission," said Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab. Both Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, were vying for the iconic ground on Nov 17. BMC officials said the proposals for permission have been sent to the UD department, which is yet to take a final call on it.
Now, with the MNS out of the fray, the Sena (UBT) is the only party whose permission is pending before it. With the assembly elections on Nov 20 and the campaign ending on Nov 18 at 5pm as per the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Shivaji Park was in high demand for a rally on Nov 17. While earlier Sena, Sena (UBT), BJP and MNS, made applications to the BMC for hosting rallies at the ground on Nov 17, two applications of the MNS and Sena (UBT) were given to BMC.
Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde took permission for the ground on Nov 10, BJP on Nov 12, and NCP on Nov 14, and they all received permission from the BMC. PM Modi addressed the Mahayuti rally at Shivaji Park on Nov 14..
