Shiv Sena (UBT) has received permission from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to hold its Dussehra rally at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on October 20, with the civic body imposing conditions on sound levels, ground protection, timing and compliance.
The permission was issued by the BMC’s G-North ward after party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai applied for the venue. According to the report, no other political party applied to hold a Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park this year, leaving the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) as the sole applicant for the ground.
The approval comes amid attention on the possibility that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray could appear alongside Uddhav Thackeray at the event. The two leaders, who are cousins, have been seen together at several public engagements in recent months. However, the report presents their joint appearance at the rally as a possibility rather than a confirmed programme.
The civic permission is subject to rules linked to the use of the public ground and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board requirements. The organisers have been directed to ensure that the sound from the event does not travel beyond the ground. They have also been told not to spread soil on the मैदान, or damage its surface during preparations or the rally.
The event has been permitted only until 10 pm. The BMC has stated that a security deposit of Rs 20,000 may be forfeited if the ground is damaged, misused or if any of the stipulated rules and conditions are violated. The organisers must also submit a registered undertaking on Rs 500 stamp paper, guaranteeing compliance with the permission terms.
The permission continues a pattern established after the political division within the Shiv Sena led to separate Dussehra rallies. In 2022, both the faction led by Eknath Shinde and the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction applied to use Shivaji Park. The dispute reached court, after which the UBT faction was granted permission for the venue. The Shinde-led faction subsequently began holding its rally at the Bandra-Kurla Complex.
In 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) and other political parties applied for the ground, but some applicants later withdrew their requests, allowing the UBT faction to hold its rally at Shivaji Park. Last year, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena held its Dussehra rally at the BKC ground, while Shiv Sena (UBT) used Shivaji Park.
The latest permission places the responsibility for crowd management, sound compliance and protection of the civic ground on the organisers. The rally is scheduled for October 20 and is authorised to continue until 10 pm, subject to the BMC’s conditions.
