Allow parties to hold rallies on roads: Raj to EC
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray Thursday requested the Election Commission to allow political parties to hold rallies on roads in cities. His first election rally in Pune Wednesday was cancelled because of heavy rain.
In his letter to the EC, the MNS chief said that the monsoon in Maharashtra is likely to continue till October 22 and the grounds reserved for election rallies cannot be used when it rains. He said that all political parties are facing the same issue and therefore, they should be allowed to hold rallies on roads.
Although Mr Thackeray wrote a polite letter to the EC, he has also displayed aggression in the same.
The MNS chief asked that political parties be allowed to hold their rallies on roads. He mentioned the alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) regarding the delayed withdrawal of rains.
He wrote that the rain is likely to affect election rallies as well as seating arrangements for party workers and followers. He asked that the rallies in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nashik be allowed on city roads. However, the EC has not replied to Mr Thackeray’s letter.
Meanwhile, the rain has
◗ The MNS chief has said that the monsoon is likely to continue till October 22 and the grounds reserved for rallies cannot be used when it rains.
not only affected life in Pune district, it has also upset Mr Thackeray’s followers who were eagerly awaiting his first election rally which was supposed to be held in Pune Wednesday. Owing to the mud and waterlogged ground, the MNS chief had to cancel the rally and also miss his lucky date i.e. 9th.
Meanwhile, in an interesting move, Mr Thackeray appealed to people to make his outfit a ‘strong Opposition party’ in the state.
His demand assumes significance as the two major Opposition parties — Congress and Nationalist Congress Party — are facing an uphill task against the formidable BJP-Shiv Sena alliance.