United Front Marches on Thane: Protests Against Civic Corruption

On Monday, a coalition of activists from Maha Vikas Aghadi, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), joined forces with MNS workers in a demonstration against the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) headquarters, showcasing an unusual unity before the civic polls.

The protest condemned rampant corruption, mismanagement, and citizen challenges like traffic congestion, water shortages, and unauthorized constructions in Thane. Beginning at Gadkari Rangayatan, the marchers carried saffron flags and chanted against the administration, though Congress leaders initially stayed away but joined in later.

The delegation, with figures such as Sena's Rajan Vichare and MNS' Abhijit Panse, entailed a meeting with Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao. They demanded a white paper on officer promotions and criticized administration, particularly targeting Deputy Commissioner Shankar Patole, recently involved in a bribery scandal.

(With inputs from agencies.)