High-decibel sound systems, high-definition cameras and SUVs packed with karyakartas streaming into the city. This is the image of today’s morchas as per old-timers. MVA’s protest on Saturday demanding the removal of Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and the alleged failure of the Eknath Shinde government was a perfect example of modernisation of morchas, veteran politicians told mid-day.

CPI leader Prakash Reddy has witnessed the evolution of morchas. Reddy, who took part in the MVA protest from Richardson and Cruddas Mills near JJ hospital to CSMT, said, “This is the age of moderation. So morcha is also modernised. But one thing is sure, this modernisation needs to be used correctly.” Recalling his younger days, the 72-year-old said, “I’ve been participating in morchas since I was 16 years old. At that time, karyakartas travelled by public transport like buses and trains. Now they travel in private vehicles. This is one of the main changes I have noticed.”