Backing his Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ally, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s demand to hold the annual Dasara rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Monday said that after 40 years of Bal Thackeray beginning the tradition, the Sena had come to be equated with the Dasara gathering at the famous venue.
“For the last 30-40 years, the Shiv Sena under Bal Thackeray has been holding the rally in Shivaji Park. Today, that Sena is working under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. Considering that it is their tradition to hold the rally, their [Uddhav faction’s] demand to stage it in Shivaji Park is not wrong,” said Mr. Pawar, commenting on the raging controversy between rival Shiv Sena factions over the annual event
Speaking in Solapur district, Mr. Pawar said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s breakaway Sena faction too had the right to hold the Dasara Mela.
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