Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (UBT) has got permission from BMC to hold its annual Dussehra rally at Dadar’s Shivaji Park on Oct 20. Officials said since no other party applied for permission to hold a rally there on Oct 20, permission was given. The Eknath Shinde-led Sena did not apply for permission at Shivaji Park this year, preventing a Sena vs Sena battle for Shivaji Park. The Shinde Sena is planning to hold the event at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai or Nesco in Goregaon if the rains continue. This year, the Sena (UBT) had applied for permission over two months in advance.In the past, there have been showdowns between the two Senas over holding a Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. In 2023 and 2024, both factions of the Sena had filed applications with the BMC to hold their annual Dussehra rally in Dadar’s Shivaji Park. But later, the Sena led by Shinde had pulled out of the battle with the Sena (UBT) to hold the party’s annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park.The Shinde led Sena has not applied to hold its rally in Shivaji Park since 2023.This year too both Dussehra rallies are expected to begin and end at around the same time and both Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde are expected to take potshots at each other with both likely to claim that they are the real Shiv Sena in the backdrop of the Sena vs Sena name and symbol case in the Supreme Court. Uddhav and Shinde will be the key speakers at their respective rallies and it is unlikely that any leaders from ally parties like BJP, Congress or NCP will be called to address the rallies.
