MUMBAI, Jan. 14 -- The police have denied permission for the annual community Pongal celebrations on the 90 Feet Road in Dharavi, citing the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct and the presence of polling booths at both ends of the stretch. The celebrations coincide with the polling day for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled on January 15. Senior Police Inspector Raju Bidkar said permission could not be granted as election-related arrangements are currently in place in the area. He added that the organisers were advised to consider holding the event on January 24 instead. However, the organisers said the date could not be changed. "Pongal is a religious festival and cannot be postponed," said Ramesh Nadar, 45, president of the Shakti Vinayakar Temple and one of the organisers. He added that the Tamil community was deeply saddened by the decision, noting that permissions for similar community Pongal celebrations had also been denied in areas such as Malad, Bhandup and Chembur....