The Shiv Sena's demand for pardoning auto-rickshaw drivers refusing to ply has left citizens angry. The Sena's transport union, Maharashtra Rickshaw Chalak Sena, has sought restoration of rickshaw permits scrapped earlier by the RTO for refusal to ply. Citizen activists have called the move "unconstitutional" and "illegal". In a drive last year, the RTO had cancelled licences of about 705 drivers for refusal to ply and flouting other traffic norms.

"A delegation of our union will be meeting Shiv Sena's Minister of Transport Anil Parab seeking restoration of permits cancelled for refusal to ply. We will hand over a memorandum to the minister for this," Ravindra Chavan, an office-bearer of the Sena union said.