Mumbai: Shiv Sena factions gear up to claim Shivaji Park for Dussehra

The Shiv Sena (UBT) Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in 2022. Pic/Ashish Raje

Both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have applied to the civic body, seeking permission to hold their Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. Last year there was a tussle between both factions of the Shiv Sena for the same.

"We have applied long back. Mahesh Sawant, vibhag pramukh, who applied for the permission told me, I don't remember the exact date. But we filed it more than one and a half months ago at the G North ward office. We also submitted a copy of last year's permission," said MP and Shiv Sena (UBT) party secretary Anil Desai. This year Dussehra is on October 24.

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Mahim MLA Sada Sarwankar of the Shinde Sena has also applied to the BMC G North ward office seeking permission. An official of the G North ward office said a decision has not yet been taken. If necessary, the official said legal opinion will be taken. Perhaps next week senior officials will decide about further action on the applications.

After the split in the party, both factions of Shiv Sena had applied to hold the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park last year. After not getting permission from BMC, Shiv Sena (UBT) had filed an application before the Bombay High Court. The court allowed it to hold the rally at Shivaji Park. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena held the rally at Bandra Kurla Complex.

The Dussehra rally has been a tradition of the Shiv Sena since 1966. With the exception of a few years, Shiv Sena has always held it at Shivaji Park.