It appears that the city always sees a tussle between political parties when festivals arrive. This time, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are in a face-off over permission for performing Chhath Puja. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has refused permission for NCP leader Rakhi Jadhav to organise the Puja at the Acharya Prahlad Keshav Atre ground at Ghatkopar East, but granted it to the Atal Samajik Sanstha, for the same venue. The Sanstha belongs to the local BJP karyakarta. Jadhav has approached the Bombay High Court over the issue. Chhath Puja is on October 30.

‘Use other areas’

“The Atal Samajik Sanstha submitted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the local police, traffic police, and Mumbai Fire brigade. Therefore BMC allowed this organisation to organize Chhath  Puja on the ground. It will use 30 per cent of the ground for Chhath Puja. We are not opposed to anybody, other organisations can use other parts of the ground,” said BJP spokesperson Bhalchandra Shirsat.