India, Feb. 22 -- Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday asked the state administration to prepare a comprehensive policy for renewing the leases of over 60 sports clubs that have spaces at Azad Maidan, Cross Maidan and Oval Maidan in south Mumbai. The Nationalist Congress Party chief also insisted that the three grounds should be used only for sports and other activities should not be allowed.

While the three grounds are used mainly for sports, the historic Azad Maidan has hosted political and public gatherings since the British era. It now has a designated space for organising protests, while political rallies are also often held there.

In December, for the first time, the swearing-in ceremony of the new Maharashtra go...