'Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park' tussle: Key hearing in Bombay HC today on both Shiv Sena factions' pleas

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court is set to hear petitions filed by both factions of Shiv Sena regarding permission to hold the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park today. While the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena sought permission to hold the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park on October 5, an MLA from the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, Sada Sarvankar filed an intervention application opposing the said petition citing the despite over 'who is the real Shiv Sena.'

The petition filed by the Thackeray faction sought an urgent hearing saying that the party approached the HC as the Mumbai civic body was yet to take a decision on their applications submitted regarding the same in August. The matter was mentioned before a division bench of Justices R D Dhanuka and Kamal Khata on Wednesday and was posted for hearing on Thursday.

However, Justices R. D. Dhanuka and Kamal Khata pushed the hearing for Friday after the petitioners sought time to amend the petition and BMC sought time to respond. Senior Advocate Aspi Chinoy, appearing for the Thackeray faction noted that 'the BMC finally decided on their application and refused permission this morning.'

"The (BMC's) order merely says since an application has been filed by the MLA as well and there can be a law and order situation. My prayers are for permission, not for the BMC to simply decide the application," said Chinoy.

Sada Savarkar, on the other hand, MLA from Dadar constituency, sought impleadment as a respondent alleging that the Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena has 'suppressed material facts' to get the court to grant the said permission.

Savarkar further mentioned that the proceedings regarding 'who is the real Shiv Sena' is still pending before the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the SC. "That the Applicant has also filed an application dated 30th August 2022 beforethe Respondent Authorities for holding Dussehra/Rally on 5 October 2022 on behalf of the real Shiv Sena Party which is also pending before the Respondent Authorities," the Dadar MP said in his plea.