In a symbolic ruling, the Bombay High Court (HC) declared that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena can hold its Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park ground on October 5, this year.
It is pertinent to note that, Thackeray’s supporters erupted in joy soon after the HC’s order, which was taken in the aftermath of Eknath Shinde’s rebellion because the ground is closely associated with the party’s history.
However, with the recent tussle between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray faction over the Dussehra rally, a question that arises in the mind of many is what importance does that place hold in Maharashtra politics and for Shiv Sena as well?
According to reports, 56 years ago, Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray held his first political rally at Shiv Sena on the day of Dussehra, an event that would recur every year thereafter, which was also turned out to be a huge success .
Moreover, Bal Thackeray, who died in 2012, was cremated here.
Sena workers call Shivaji Park 'Shiva-tirtha,' or a holy place, that now houses a memorial to Bal Thackeray.
In addition, the memorial of freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar too is located near the Park.
Savarkar lived in a bungalow in the same area. The Thackeray family too resided in the same area before shifting to 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra.
The Sena Bhavan, the party's headquarters, is also located close to the Park.
Though, Shivaji Park have now turned into a new battleground between the two warring factions of the Sena since June, when Shinde assumed office after joining hands with the BJP to form a government.
Besides, there is now a dispute over whether it is the Thackeray faction or the one led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde the real Shiv Sena.
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