MUMBAI: All roads lead to Shivaji Park this election season. The veteran of political rallies in Dadar is in high demand, what with the Lok Sabha election to be conducted in five phases in the state.
Knowing that a message sent from Shivaji Park reverberates across the state, almost all major political parties have made applications to the BMC to book the ground for rallies in April and May.
Shiv Sena led by chief minister Eknath Shinde has even applied to hold its Dusshera rally at the venue on Oct 12, after having had to hold the previous two editions at BKC in 2022 and Azad Maidan in 2023, when the Shiv Sena (UBT) was given Shivaji Park for its Dusshera gathering.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's MNS have both applied for use of the ground on May 17, the last day before poll campaigning ends for voting in the city on May 20.
At least a dozen days have been sought by five parties, Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT), BJP, NCP and MNS, Lok Sabha election.
Shiv Sena wants the ground on April 16, 19 and 21, and May 3, 5 and 7. NCP has applied to get the ground on April 22, 24 and 27. BJP wants the ground on April 23, 26 and 28.
Congress, which recently held a mega rally at Shivaji Park to mark the conclusion of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on March 17, is yet to apply to hold more rallies on the ground. NCP (SP) is also yet to make its application.
Municipal officials said the BMC received six applications from parties and some of the applications requested reservation of the ground on multiple dates. "We have sent the requests to the state urban development department and the Election Commission. Further action will be taken based on the decision taken by them," a municipal official said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said there was democracy in the country and all parties were free to book grounds for holding their rallies. "Anyone can hold a rally. We are fighting 48 seats in Maharashtra...and we made the application first for Shivaji Park. Shivaji Park has a tradition of holding political rallies. So anyone who applies, they must get permission," Raut said.
In 2022 and 2023, both Shiv Sena (UBT) and Shiv Sena had applied to hold the Dussehra rally. In 2022, the BMC declined permission to both parties, and eventually Bombay high court quashed the BMC order and allowed Shiv Sena (UBT) to hold its Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. The high court had observed that the BMC misused its powers in deciding the application of the petitioners. The court further directed Shiv Sena (UBT) to approach ward officers with its order and seek permission afresh in accordance with a government resolution of 2016.
In 2023, Shiv Sena pulled out of the battle with Shiv Sena (UBT) for the ground for its Dussehra rally.
Rallies and functions at the venue have been restricted since August 2010, when the high court, acting on a PIL, banned non-sporting activities except under special circumstances. The state issued a government resolution on Jan 20, 2016, allowing an exemption of 45 days when non-sporting activities can be taken up, including the Dussehra rally. After the notification came out, BMC began granting permission for political rallies.