Arrangements and preparations are underway for the much-talked about oath taking ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made at and around Shivaji Park in central Mumbai where Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) nominee Uddhav Thackeray will take oath as Chief Minister on Thursday evening.
Shivsainiks are emotionally connected to Shivaji Park, the venue of Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony. Party founder late Bal Thackeray used to address Dussehra rallies at the park, a tradition that is still kept alive by his son, Uddhav.
Meanwhile, the Bombay high court on Wednesday raised security concerns about the use of Shivaji Park for swearing-in ceremony. “Just imagine what will happen at the ground and the by lanes around, if there is a gathering of 4 to 5 lakh people at the ground,” the bench of justice SC Dharmadhikari and justice RI Chagla asked the lawyer appearing for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
“We say nothing about tomorrow, but pray that nothing (untoward) happens tomorrow,” said the bench and expressed concern that such programs may now become a regular feature at the Shivaji Park.
Meanwhile, the course of developments haveinvited major flak for the BJP. Various political leaders and parties slammed the BJP after it made Devendra Fadnaviswas sworn-in as the Maharashtra Chief Minister overnight raising many eyebrows.
Congress leader P Chidambaram attacked the BJP over the way Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister. “It was an assault on the office of Rasthrapathi to wake him up at 4 am to sign an order revoking President’s Rule. Why could it not have waited until 9 am in the morning?” he asked in a tweet.
Senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Pradeep Mathur called Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari a “BJP agent” and demanded his dismissal for dragging the office of the President into controversy.
“Sack Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari if he does not tender his resignation on his own for working as a BJP agent,” Mathur urged President Ram Nath Kovind in his statement.