The October 4 protest march announced jointly by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray will also be joined by the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), bringing more Opposition parties together for the proposed agitation. Participation by the NCP (SP) was confirmed on Thursday by the party’s working president Supriya Sule. It was stated by Sule that her party would take part in the protest march scheduled for October 4.
The Congress also confirmed that it would participate in the march. Party leader Nana Patole said that the agitation should not remain limited to political parties and should instead be taken forward as a people’s movement. It was stated by Patole that democracy was being “murdered in broad daylight”. He also alleged that Gyanesh Kumar was benefiting the BJP. According to Patole, the Congress believed that democracy had to be protected, while people who believed in democracy were now taking to the streets.
The confirmation of participation by the two parties came after an INDIA bloc meeting was attended virtually by Uddhav Thackeray. During the meeting, an appeal was made by him to alliance partners to participate in the October 4 march. Opposition parties as well as citizens had also been invited by Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to take part in the demonstration. With the Congress and NCP (SP) deciding to participate, key Opposition parties in Maharashtra will be brought together around the proposed agitation for the first time. The participation of the two parties will also widen the political presence at the march.
The protest is scheduled to be held in Mumbai on October 4, with the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar being sought. The march is being organised by the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT). However, a change has now been made to the route of the protest march being organised by the Thackeray cousins. Raj Thackeray had earlier outlined the proposed route of the march during a press conference held by the Thackeray cousins. According to the earlier plan, the procession was to begin from outside Richardson Cruddas in Byculla and proceed towards CST. However, the route has now been changed due to traffic congestion and security considerations.
Under the revised plan, the march will now be taken from Metro Cinema to CSMT station. Following the change in route, other political parties and members of the public have been called upon to participate in the demonstration. The October 4 demonstration will therefore be held along the revised Metro Cinema-to-CSMT route, instead of the previously planned Byculla-to-CST route. The Congress and NCP (SP) have confirmed their participation alongside the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT), while other parties and members of the public have also been invited to join the march.
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