Congress to launch BMC poll campaign at Shivaji Park rally

The chief of Mumbai unit’s coordination committee Dr Amarjit Singh Manhas suggested holding a public rally at Shivaji Park

The Mumbai Congress will launch its campaign for the civic polls at a public rally to be held at Dadar's iconic Shivaji Park on the party's foundation day on December 28. Party President Sonia Gandhi and senior leader Rahul Gandhi will attend the event for the mission that the Congress proposes to work on independently of its partners in the state government.

Party's state in-charge General Secretary H K Patil presided over a meeting with Maharashtra and Mumbai leaders on Friday. At a Mumbai-specific review, the chief of Mumbai unit's coordination committee Dr Amarjit Singh Manhas suggested holding a public rally at Shivaji Park, where the party has held events attended by the members of the Gandhi family. The proposal was accepted, said party insiders.
Mumbai holds historic significance for the Congress party which was founded in the city in 1885 at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College.

Later Patil confirmed the proposed event to the media persons at the party's headquarters Tilak Bhavan. "We will launch several important election-related programmes at the Shivaji Park. Our president Sonia ji and Rahul ji will be invited to address the rally," he said.

If it happens, depending on how the Covid-19 situation improves in next six months, the Congress will have a rally at Shivaji Park after December 28, 2006, ahead of the BMC polls. Similar events had happened in 2003 and 1998. Dr Manhas was in-charge of the event in 2006. His suggestion was supported by all state and Mumbai leaders. Patil said he would hold another review meeting on August 23.

Pact stands unchanged

Patil said the Congress would decide the pre-poll alliances only after considering the recommendations made by local units. "Our stand remains unchanged. Mumbai will tell us about its stand, so will local units," he said.

Insiders said the leaders have maintained that the party should not enter into a pact with the Shiv Sena or Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Maharashtra unit president Nana Patole and his Mumbai counterpart Bhai Jagtap have already told the party that they would prefer fighting without the crutches.