In Mumbai: BJP, Sena, MNS fight over a selfie spot

It’s one tussle after another. After the BMC polls, three political parties, the BJP, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are now locked in a fight over a selfie point at Dadar’s Shivaji Park.

It’s one tussle after another. After the BMC polls, three political parties, the BJP, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are now locked in a fight over a selfie point at Dadar’s Shivaji Park.

An aerial view of Dadar’s Shivaji Park. (Hindustan Times)

The issue began when MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande last week announced he would close the selfie point he had set up, as he was running short of funds. The selfie point had different themes, changed every now and then, as backdrop, making it a popular spot among the youth.

Its popularity prompted both the Sena and BJP to compete to maintain the spot. When Sena put up hoardings announcing it will take over the responsibility, the BJP got approval to do so . Mumbai BJP chief, Ashish Shelar, announced on Twitter the point will be maintained “in a grand manner”. In response, the Sena’s Vishakha Raut, in whose ward it is, said it was her responsibility.

The melee got MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who had inaugurated the selfie point in 2015, to give a dressing down to Deshpande for the negative publicity that came after his announcement. “Rajsaheb told me to continue (maintaining) it,” Deshpande has said.

Sources said his earlier announcement may have been because he was angry as his wife, Swapna, lost from ward 191 against Vishakha Raut. Desphande could not contest as the ward was reserved for women. The MNS was drubbed in Dadar-Mahim belt, which Sena won.