MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has been ordered to remove all the lanterns it had hung along with party symbols at Shivaji Park for the Deepotsava festivities. The directive was issued by the returning officer of Mahim assembly constituency following a complaint by the Shiv Sena (UBT), which alleged that the MNS had violated the model code of conduct.

The MNS has been organizing Deepotsava in Shivaji Park for the past 12 years with party chief Raj Thackeray residing in the area. However, with Thackeray’s son Amit contesting elections from Mahim constituency, which includes Shivaji Park, the Sena (UBT) had raised objections to the party’s sponsorship of the festivities. Further, the Sena’s (UBT) complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI) that Deepotsava’s expenses should be added to Amit’s election expenses was accepted.

MNS chief Yashwant Killedar, chief coordinator of the Deepotsava festivities, confirmed that the EC had asked them to remove the lanterns on Road No. 2, leading from Raja Badhe Chowk to Shivaji Park. “We received a call from the Electoral Commission on Friday evening to remove all the lanterns that bore party symbols. We will remove them by Saturday morning. There are over 250 such lanterns that need to be removed,” Killedar said.

The returning officer of Mahim assembly constituency, Prashant Panvekar, did not respond to HT’s attempts to contact him.

Killedar said: “Those who are complaining do not realize that they are opposing a Hindu festival. It would have been good if the Shiv Sena (UBT) had opposed the installation of banners, but they were lanterns. We followed all the rules. It’s just jealousy. We are not campaigning for Amit Thackeray in Deepotsava. Also, did we complain about the Sena’s (UBT) Dushera rally?