Heavy Traffic Expected on Pune-Mumbai Expressway Today Ahead of Victory Rally

Pune, 5th July 2025: Traffic on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway is likely to be disrupted on Saturday as thousands of political workers from Pune and western Maharashtra head to Mumbai to attend a high-profile ‘Victory Rally’ jointly organised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (UBT).

The rally, scheduled to take place at the NSCI Dome in Worli, has been called to celebrate the state government’s withdrawal of resolutions (GRs) that sought to make Hindi a mandatory third language from Standard I in Maharashtra schools. The move had sparked widespread criticism from pro-Marathi organisations and political parties.

8,000 Workers Set to Travel for Rally
An estimated 3,000 workers from Pune and around 5,000 from other districts in western Maharashtra are expected to travel to Mumbai. According to party leaders, no special efforts have been made to mobilise crowds, citing limited capacity at the venue.

“Despite the constraints, workers are voluntarily heading to Mumbai to show their support for the Marathi language and our leadership,” said Ajay Shinde, a local MNS leader.
“The rally is scheduled to begin at 10 am. Most participants from Pune will start early in the morning and travel in their own vehicles.”

Gajanan Thirkude of Shiv Sena (UBT) echoed similar sentiments.
“We had a preparatory meeting on Thursday. Many of our members expressed their eagerness to attend and listen to Uddhavji and Rajsaheb speak. There was no need for a formal mobilisation.”

Poster Features Uddhav and Raj Together
For the first time, posters issued by MNS featured both Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, sparking speculation about renewed camaraderie and possible political collaboration. While the rally has been officially declared a “non-political event”, leaders from both parties confirmed that discussions are underway for a joint alliance in the upcoming BMC elections.
“We conducted a joint inspection of the NSCI Dome,” said UBT MLC Anil Parab, speaking to reporters during a final review of the arrangements.

“This isn’t just about two parties coming together; it’s a celebration of the collective voice of the Marathi-speaking people. The state withdrew its language GR out of fear of Marathi unity. This rally belongs to the Marathi manoos — not any single political outfit.”

Parab added that while invitations had been extended to leaders from multiple parties, only the heads of the organising parties would be allowed on stage to deliver speeches.

Security, Traffic Arrangements in Place
With a turnout of nearly 10,000 expected, police authorities have stepped up traffic monitoring along the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. Assistant Police Inspector Shivprasad Pawar of Wadgaon Maval Police Station confirmed that additional patrolling units would be deployed.

“We are closely watching vehicular movement on the expressway. Measures are being taken to ensure there are no major traffic snarls due to the rally,” he said.
Officials also conducted a full-dress rehearsal on Friday to ensure smooth execution of the programme.

Other Political Responses
Senior NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Sharad Pawar will not attend the rally due to prior commitments, though state party president Jayant Patil may represent the party. The inclusion of other parties at a non-political event hosted by MNS and UBT has raised eyebrows, especially given the significance of the language issue in state politics.

MNS functionary Bala Nandgaonkar, who also took part in the venue inspection, stated:
“This is about protecting the linguistic identity of Maharashtra. The rally represents a larger cultural movement and isn’t restricted to party lines.”

Transport and Crowd Management
Traditionally, both MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) arrange group transport for large events such as Dussehra Melava, Gudi Padwa rallies, and anniversary events. However, for this rally, leaders say most participants are travelling independently due to space limitations at the indoor venue.

Organisers expect an overflow crowd, and a contingency plan is in place to manage people outside the dome. Given the monsoon season, the rally was shifted indoors instead of being held on an open ground.

Cultural Identity and Political Messaging
While officially billed as a cultural event to celebrate the protection of Marathi language in schools, the rally is widely seen as a show of strength and unity between two estranged political factions — both led by Thackeray cousins. The symbolic coming together of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray is being closely watched in Maharashtra’s political circles as a possible prelude to a broader alliance.

“The message is clear: when the identity of Maharashtra is challenged, all divisions can be set aside,” a UBT insider commented off the record.