Uddhav Thackeray prays at Kalaram temple in Nashik, visits Savarkar memorial

Pic/Aditya Thackeray/X

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray Monday prayed at the renowned Kalaram Temple in Nashik.

He was accompanied by his wife Rashmi Thackeray, sons Aaditya, who is an MLA and former state minister, and Tejas. Party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was also present, newswire PTI reported.

The former chief minister, who took part in various rituals, including 'pradakshina' (clockwise circumambulation of sacred structures/entities), was honoured by the temple trustees, the report said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had prayed at the Kalaram Temple when he was in Nashik on January 12 to inaugurate the National Youth Festival.

Thackeray earlier in the day visited the memorial of VD Savarkar in Bhagur, the birthplace of the late Hindutva ideologue. Thackeray also performed 'Goda pujan' and worshipped Godavari river at Ramkund on Goda ghat.

Ganga Godavari Panchkoti Purohit Sangh president Satish Shukla and other members of the outfit performed the rituals.

Incidentally, the Shiv Sena (UBT) had slammed the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance after Thackeray was sent an invite for the Ram Temple idol consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on Monday by speed post.

"All film stars are invited but the Thackeray family that has been closely associated with movement is treated in such a manner," key Thackeray aide Sanjay Raut had said.

On Tuesday, Thackeray is scheduled to address a public rally at Hutatma Anant Kanhere ground here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of his father and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other lawmakers of his group on a plea of the Uddhav Thackeray faction challenging Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's order declaring the Shiv Sena bloc led by Shinde as the "real political party" after its split in June 2022.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Thackeray faction, and sought response of the chief minister and other MLAs within two weeks.

At the outset, the top court said the plea can be heard by the Bombay High Court as well. The senior lawyers for the Thackeray faction, however, opposed the idea and said the top court is more equipped to handle the case. (With inputs from agencies)