Rs 100-cr memorial for Bal Thackeray; Sena chief, CM Fadnavis attend ceremony

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, January 23

The Maharashtra government has earmarked Rs 100 crore for a memorial to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray which will come up at the former bungalow of Mumbai's mayor at Shivaji Park.

The title deed for property on which the former mayor's bungalow is located was formally handed over to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray by Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta at an event to formally kickstart the construction of the memorial.

Today was the 93rd birth anniversary of Bal Thackeray. The memorial coming up below the bungalow will be managed by the Bal Thackeray Memorial Trust managed by the Shiv Sena chief.

The occasion was marked by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray conducting Ganesh puja and Vastu puja to mark the construction of the memorial. The bhoomi poojan for the memorial is to be held next month.

Leaders of the Shiv Sena and the BJP were present on the occasion. Shiv Sena leaders said after the event that there were no political discussions.

While the BJP is keen on an alliance with the Shiv Sena for the Lok Sabha polls, the regional party has been threatening to go it alone.