Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a press conference in Mumbai
A memorial to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray will be located at the Mumbai's Mayor's bungalow, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced today. By his side sat Shiv Sena chief and Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav, who thanked the Chief Minister.
The two leaders were at the city's Shivaji Park where Bal Thackeray was cremated three years ago on November 18, 2012. It was the first time they were meeting publicly since their parties, allies at the Centre and in Maharashtra, faced off in an acerbic battle for a civic election in Mumbai suburb, Kalyan-Dombivali, earlier this month.
A corner where Bal Thackeray was cremated at the sprawling Shivaji Park currently houses a small temporary memorial for him. Last year, said Mr Fadnavis, "We had announced that the state government would build an appropriate memorial and an empowered committee was set up which recommended that it be located at the Mayor's Bungalow."
He said a public trust would be set up to look after the memorial at the sea-side bungalow right across Shivaji Park in Dadar, where Bal Thackeray had announced the launch of the Shiv Sena in 1966 and where he also addressed his famous Dussehra rallies every year.
The Shiv Sena had reportedly pushed for the memorial to be located at the Mayor's bungalow, which offers an uninterrupted view of Dadar Chowpatty and has been the official residence of Mumbai's Mayor for more than four decades now.
Mr Fadnavis said, "There is another bungalow that was designated earlier for the Mayor. The Mayor will live there and not be homeless."
The Chief Minister did not share how much the outlay for the Thackeray memorial would be, saying, "Balasaheb's contribution to Maharashtra cannot be weighed in money. The government will spend as much as is required."