CM Devendra Fadnavis and MNS chief Raj Thackeray were among those who had thronged to Balasaheb Thackeray Smriti Udyan yesterday to pay their respects to the Shiv Sena founder on his second death anniversary
Even with the political scenario in the state changing continually, and while the Shiv Sena’s equation with the BJP and MNS are lukewarm at best, none of it seemed to matter as CM Devendra Fadnavis and MNS chief Raj Thackeray visited Balasaheb Thackeray Smriti Udyan at Shivaji Park yesterday, to pay their respects to Bal Thackeray on his second death anniversary.
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Uddhav Thackeray paying his respects to his late father
As the CM entered the park in Dadar on Monday, the former received a quiet welcome, while the CM was met with thundering chants of “amar rahe, amar rahe, Bal Thackeray amar rahe” from the Sainiks. Undeterred, however, Fadnavis announced his intention to have a memorial built to commemorate Bal Thackeray.
CM Devendra Fadnavis announced his intention to build a memorial for Bal Thackeray on the occasion of the Sena founder’s death anniversary yesterday. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar
Addressing the media, he said, “We will soon appoint a committee to look into the feasibility of such a project, and try to build a memorial in his (Bal Thackeray) name soon.” Last year, Raj’s wife, Sharmila, was seen circling the park, but she did not enter the memorial space.
Raj himself had given the ceremony a skip last year, but this year, the anniversary seemed to have brought the two Thackeray cousins together. Accompanied by a few of his loyalists, the MNS chief seemed engaged in the rites conducted to mark Thackeray’s passing.
While the anniversary served to reunite some yesterday, for some others, it meant a long wait in the queues to pay respects to the Shiv Sena founder. Top political leaders were granted immediate access to the park and the ongoing ceremonies, but Sena supporters and party members on lower rungs did not have it so easy.
A huge crowd had turned up to pay their respects to the late leader, and male party workers and supporters had to wait in long queues before they could offer their prayers. As there were fewer female visitors, they were given easier access, however.
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