Sena holds Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park sans speeches

Shiv Sena today organised its annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, but there were no fiery speeches by its leaders, for which the event is known, in view of the model code of conduct in force for the October 15 Assembly polls in Maharashtra.
The party leaders and workers took part in the traditional puja at the iconic ground in Central Mumbai, the venue for Sena's Dussehra rally ever since it was founded by Bal Thackeray in 1966.
Over the years, the meeting became the most awaited political event in Sena's annual calender as it was used by Thackeray to take on his rivals and outline the saffron outfit's programmes and policies.

The last address by Thackeray to his supporters was through a pre-recorded speech in October 2012, in which he was seen pleading with folded hands to Marathi manoos to stay united and keep extending support to Shiv Sena.
After his death, his son and Sena President Uddhav addressed the rally last year and vowed to once again capture power in the State and unfurl saffron flag atop Mantralaya (state secretariat) here.