With an eye on the civic elections in 2017, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporators are going all out to woo voters.
After selling meat outside municipal markets on the first day of Paryushan – the fasting period of Jains – and assaulting North Indian fruit vendors in Ghatkopar, the MNS has now set its sights on Navratri, the 10-day celebrations of the Gujarati community.
With Navratri around the corner, MNS group leader, Sandeep Deshpande has written to civic chief Ajoy Mehta asking that municipal grounds be given on 50 per cent profit sharing ratio to dandia/garba organisers during Navratri.
The letter stated that municipal grounds are rented out to dandia organisers at subsidised rates, whereas the civic body charges for hoardings and banners put up in Ganpati mandals as per commercial rates.
Deshpande said, “If we charge 50 per cent profit, we will also earn revenue, as various dandia organisers are given municipal grounds at subsidised rates, which are commercially exploited. Besides, the citizens have to pay an entry fee.”