MNS gets nod for Kalachowki rally

Mumbai: The uncertainty over Raj Thackeray's rally at Kalachowki has finally been cleared. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief has finally been given permission to hold a rally, though on a different date.

According to sources, Mr Thackeray has been asked to advance the rally to April 23, instead of April 24.

The MNS chief was scheduled to hold a rally at Abhyuday Nagar in Kalachowki on April 24.

The poll authorities had asked him to approach the local authorities. The Election Commission then denied permission to him to hold a rally, saying his party is not contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

Irked by this, the MNS had warned it would go ahead with its plans even if it were denied permission.

On Sunday, the party finally got the green signal to conduct a rally, but on April 23, instead of April 24. “All obstacles in the organisation of the rally have now been sorted out. We will hold the rally as per our plans,” said an MNS official.

The MNS had decided to hold the rally at Shahid Bhagat Maidan in Kalach-owki.

For this, they had approached the assistant commissioner of F-South ward office on April 18 for permission. During the campaign period of the Lok Sabha polls, candidates are required to apply under the ‘single window’ scheme for various permissions. Accordingly, the MNS application was sent to the co-ordination officer of the ‘single window’ scheme in the South Central Mumbai constituency. However, they denied the permission, saying the MNS is not contesting the polls.

Though the MNS is not contesting, Mr Thackeray has been campaigning aggressively against PM  Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, rallying for their ouster. His rallies have been getting a lot of crowds across the state.