BJP shifts its rally venue to avoid loss of face to Shiv Sena

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has moved its February 18 rally to Somaiya grounds in Chunabhatti as despite being in power, it managed to get lesser space than Shiv Sena to hold the rally at the MMRDA grounds in the Bandra Kurla Complex. While Sena managed to get 60,000 square meters to hold its closing rally for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, BJP was allotted only 45,000 square meters.

Holding BJP’s February 18 rally at BKC would have led to two issues — firstly there existed a major chance of already excited party workers of both parties being drawn into a clash and secondly, BJP would have appeared small in front of Sena. To avoid both, BJP claims it moved its rally to a bigger location in Somaiya grounds, Chunnabhatti.

Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar announced the decision, saying, “We are now the big brother. Sena’s allegations are childish. And in such situations the big brother always behaves wisely and does not get into a clash. So, we have decided to hold a big rally at Somaiya to show our strength in the city.”

Shiv Sena alleged that MMRDA was taking time to decide on its request for space in BKC for the rally, which it said was a result of as the Authority coming under the Chief Minister’s Office.

Commenting on the issue, Shiv Sena MLC Anil Parab said, “Where the BJP has to hold rally it is their concern, we have nothing to do with it. However, the BJP was using its power to take away the place allotted to us.”