Heavy rains in Mumbai force Shiv Sena to call off its 49th anniversary conclave

“Due to the incessant rains we have decided to postpone our function for now. We will announce an appropriate date on when we plan to hold it,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.

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The party had been looking forward to Saturday’s function which would have marked the 49th anniversary of the party’s formation. The event has supposed to be a marquee event where Thackeray was planning to strike a belligerent tone against the BJP with whom the party shares an uneasy alliance.

The Sena had been in tenterhooks since morning after the incessant rains brought the city to a virtual standstill. The party cadre and leadership which is known to hit the streets in time of contingency were busy undertaking preparations for the function which was to be held at Shanmukhanand Hall, located in a suburb in Mumbai which is prone to water logging.

Interestingly the BMC is controlled by the Shiv Sena with the help of its junior ally the BJP. Both Uddhav Thackeray and Adiitya Thackeray had taken personal interest and had made statements to assure the city that they would ensure that there would be no waterlogging this Monsoon.

Sena leaders were in two minds till the afternoon on calling off the function but the decision by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to visit the BMCs disaster control room forced the Sena’s hand on pulling the plug on the function.

“At a time when the city is underwater and people are troubled it would have been improper to carry on with celebrations. We need to be seen with the people at this hour,” a senior Sena leader said.

Interestingly soon after the function as cancelled Aditya Thackeray visited the BMC. Sena leaders have claimed that function was cancelled as they did not want to put people through any hardship.