MNS allowed to use Shivaji Park for poll campaign; Raj Thackeray, Modi slated to share stage on May 17

This will be the first public rally attended jointly by Thackeray and Modi amid the Lok Sabha elections.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena UBT had also applied to book the ground on May 17, however, the permission has been granted to the MNS by the civic body.

Considering the significance of the campaign rallies at Shivaji Park in the politics of Maharashtra, almost all parties have applied to the BMC to book the ground for their respective rallies.

The Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has also applied for the upcoming Dussehra rally, which falls on October 12 this year. In the last two years, the party had to hold its Dussehra rallies at the Bandra Kurla Complex and Azad Maidan ground, respectively, instead of the Shivaji Park as the Shiv Sena UBT had also applied for the ground.

According to the civic body, the BMC had received six applications from the five major political parties and some of the parties had made requests to reserve the ground for multiple dates. “The requests were referred to the state Urban Development department and the Election Commission for further action and decision,” a BMC official said.

Among the parties that have applied to book the ground on at least 12 days are the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT), BJP, NCP (AP) and MNS had applied for the close to a dozen days to reserve the ground.

While the Shinde led Sena had sought the ground for April 16, 19, 21, May 3, 5, and 7, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP had applied to get the ground on April 22, 24 and 27. The BJP has applied for April 23, 26 and 28 and Sena UBT and the MNS have sought to book the ground for May 17.

Except for the MNS’s application, none of the others have been given permission by the BMC and the Urban Development department.

“The MNS’S Yashwant Killedar had applied for the ground through a letter dated March 18 and accordingly, the permissions have been given to hold the rally to the MNS for an election campaign rally with certain conditions,” a senior civic body official said.