Members of both rival Sena factions — one led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the other by his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray — visited the Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Smruti Sthal in Shivaji Park to pay tribute to the late party founder Bal Thackeray on his death anniversary, on Sunday (Pics/ASHISH RAJE)
Updated On: 2024-11-17 06:00 PM IST
Compiled by : Divya Nair
The followers of the Sena supremo began queueing up at Shivaji Park from the morning to pay their respects to their leader
Thackeray passed away on November 17, 2012, owing to age-related ailments. He was 86
Earlier in the day, Thackeray's son Uddhav and various other leaders from across political spectrum paid homage to the Shiv Sena founder. Uddhav, along with wife Rashmi, visited his father's memorial at the Shivaji Park and offered floral tributes
Former Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve of the Shiv Sena (UBT), speaks to media after paying homage to Thackeray
Young followers of the Sena supremo click a selfie at Shivaji Park
Ten years after Thackeray's death, in 2022, the Shiv Sena split after Shinde led a rebellion against the party leadership, triggering the collapse of the Maha Vikas Agahadi (MVA) government under Uddhav
Shinde subsequently joined hands with the BJP to form government. The Election Commission later recognised the Shinde-led faction as the 'real' Shiv Sena
The split came three years after Uddhav had taken a major ideological shift from his father's Hindutva politics when he decided to form a government with the NCP and Congress
Before stepping into politics, Thackeray began his professional career as a cartoonist with the Free Press Journal – an English-language daily
In 1960, Thackeray left the Free Press Journal and launched his own political weekly – Marmik. Through the political weekly, Thackeray continued to campaign against the “increasing influence of non-Marathis in Mumbai”
In 1966, Bal Thackeray launched his political outfit, Shiv Sena, with the aim of addressing the issues of Maharashtra. The party primarily focused on advocating for the rights and concerns of the Marathi-speaking population and adopted a Hindu nationalist stance. One of its key objectives was to ensure employment stability for the Marathi people within the state. Over time, Thackeray became a highly influential figure in Maharashtra’s social and political landscape, shaping the state's political discourse and identity
