MUMBAI: MNS president Raj Thackeray Friday said he will not hold his closing election rally at Dadar’s Shivaji Park on Sunday as the state urban development (UD) department is yet to grant his party permission for the event.
Now, only Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT)’s application seeking to host its rally at the iconic ground remains. Since the UD department hasn’t given it nod so far, Sena (UBT) has begun preparations for MVA’s closing rally at BKC on Sunday evening.
Explaining his decision to cancel the Shivaji Park rally, Raj said: “Though just over one day remains, govt hasn’t given permission. We have just 1.5 days, and it’s hard to organise a rally in 1.5 days.” Instead, Raj said, he would visit assembly segments in Mumbai and Thane to canvass for MNS candidates on Sunday.
With polls on November 20 and campaigning ending on November 18 at 5pm as per the model code of conduct, Shivaji Park is in high demand for a rally on November 17. While earlier Shiv Sena, Sena (UBT), BJP and MNS made applications to BMC for hosting rallies at the ground that day, only two applications – of MNS and Sena (UBT) – remained with BMC.
A civic official said: “We sent the proposals to the UD department and it is yet to take a call… Now, since MNS said it doesn’t want to hold its rally, permission can be given to Shiv Sena (UBT).” Sena got not to use Shivaji Park on November 10, BJP on November 12, and NCP on November 14. PM Modi addressed the Mahayuti rally held on the Dadar ground on November 14.