Mumbai: BMC plays it safe, refuses Shivaji Park to both Sena and breakaway

After dragging its feet for nearly a month, the BMC has denied permission for Dussehra rallies at Shivaji Park to both Shiv Sena factions. The civic body cited a letter from the police raising concerns that an event at the Dadar venue might disturb law and order. Today, the Bombay High Court will take up the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena's petition over Shivaji Park.

The Thackeray camp on August 22 applied to the G-North ward seeking permission to hold its annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. The Shinde faction made a similar request on August 30. But the BMC kept sitting on the applications on some pretext or the other.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at Sena Bhavan, Dadar, on Thursday. Pic/Ashish Raje

It was only after the Uddhav camp approached the HC over the delay at the BMC's end, the corporation said it won't allow any group to use the Shivaji Park ground for their rallies on October 5. The civic body said it had received a letter from the police that talked of potential problems at the ground, where Sena found Bal Thackeray held the party's first Dussehra rally in 1966.

In its letter to the BMC, the Shivaji Park police said that since both the opposing applicants have applied for permission to organise rally at Shivaji Park, if any one of the applicants is allowed to organise the Dussehra rally, "it may create a serious law and order problem in the sensitive area of Shivaji Park".

Based on the message from the police, the BMC wrote to both camps on Wednesday. While both groups had also applied for a ground at BKC, permission was given to the Shinde camp as it approached the BMC first.

Since Bal Thackeray's death in 2012, his son and Sena chief Uddhav Thackrey has led the party's Dussehra rally. Though Sena has held rallies at other venues, including BKC, Shivaji Park has a historic significance.

Race for rally venue

>> Sena applies to BMC on Aug 22 for its Shivaji Park Dussehra rally
>> Shinde faction makes a similar request for the same venue on August 30
>> Both groups apply for BKC ground, but it's allotted to Shinde faction as they applied first
>> BMC denies nod to both for rally at Shivaji Park
>> Uddhav Sena's plea to be heard today