Explained: Why Mumbai is battleground for MVA, BJP rallies today

 

Check out reasons why both the Maha Vikas Aghadi and Bharatiya Janata Party are squaring up on the streets of Mumbai today.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi, constituting the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), National Congress Party and Congress, has organised a massive ‘Halla Bol’ rally in Mumbai against the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, which is also convening a counter-protest in the city.

This is the first combined show of strength of the MVA constituents since the Shiv Sena split with the Eknath Shinde faction that joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and toppled their government. Whereas, the ruling ally in the state also took the same path to protest against the MVA over several controversial remarks made by its leaders.

The MVA-led rally is joined by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, his mother Rashmi Thackeray, state Congress president Nana Patole among other leaders.

Why both the MVA and Maharashtra government's BJP ally are up against each other?

‘Halla Bol’ against Maharashtra government

The ‘Halla Bol’ rally by the MVA is conducted to register their anger against the ruling Eknath Shinde government in the state, allying with BJP, over various issues. The protest march is seen as an attempt to rally MVA's allied parties after Uddhav Thackeray-led government was toppled in June this year.