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BMC polls: Race on to end canvassing with a bang

The city will be transformed into a big battlefield as the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) fiercely compete with each other.

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The city will be transformed into a big battlefield as the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) fiercely compete with each other to display their political might in the grand finale of campaigning.

Political parties can campaign till 10pm on Monday but they will have to wind up by 5pm on Tuesday, the last day of campaigning.

While the Shiv Sena is gearing up to mobilise the masses for the mother of all rallies at Bandra-Kurla Complex, the MNS has threatened to bring the city to a standstill at the Jamboori Maidan rally.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has urged the home department to deploy maximum police force to avert any law and order problems.

“The biggest challenge is to ensure that the shows on roads do not turn into a law and order problem,” a senior secretary in the home ministry told DNA. “We are closely monitoring the developments of the MNS. We are deploying a force of 15,000 police force. Men in civil clothes and intelligence officials have already been planted.”

Chavan and home minister RR Patil have cautioned against arresting MNS chief Raj Thackeray as it could go against them in the BMC polls. However, preventive arrests of anti-social elements are not being ruled out.

“We hold rallies to convey our political and ideological message to the people. Unlike others who make an issue over rally venues to seek attention.,” said Uddhav Thackeray, Sena executive president.

But undoubtedly, the star attraction at the grand alliance rally on Monday will be Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

Miffed with the failure to acquire Shivaji Park which has become out of bounds for all parties because of its silence zone status, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had threatened to address his supporters from his Dadar house terrace.

“Rajsaheeb’s address will be a make or break for the MNS in the BMC. It will also test his leadership ability. How well he can turn the tide in MNS favour remains to be seen,” said an MNS source.
In a tactical move, the Congress and the NCP have also deployed their supporters to closely monitor the development in their respective wards to assist the law and order situation.

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