MNS Chief Raj Thackeray opposes memorial for Bal Thackeray at Mumbai Mayor’s

The Shiv Sena is keen on plum positions and also wants to swap a couple of portfolios with the BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on his third death anniversary, saying he was committed to the well-being of people. He had been a guiding light for all of us who helped make Maharashtra that is respected everywhere.

Earlier, Fadnavis said the memorial would be built through a trust which will be headed by Uddhav Thackeray and the funds would be allocated by the state government. The Mayor’s bungalow is too small a place to build a memorial for him.

“Today they are in power so they are converting the mayor bungalow to a memorial…”

The party chief making a jibe questioned the rationale behind the move and said Sena in near future might ask for the Raj Bhavan (Governor’s official residence) or the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President’s official residence) to set up a few other memorial.

The Chief Minister said the committee suggested eight places, and after extensive deliberations with Uddhav, the final place was decided.

MNS President Raj Thackeray on Tuesday opposed the proposed place for Balasaheb Thackeray’s memorial at Mayor’s bungalow. “The names of other members of this trust will be announced in 2-3 days”, he said. Why only the mayor’s bungalow? It can not be pulled down. The Congress says it is not opposed to the idea of the memorial at the Shivaji Bungalow.

“Balasaheb’s contributions can not be measured in terms of money”.

“In a city like Mumbai, is it so hard for the government to find an open plot for constructing the memorial?” The memorial will be constructed in Mumbai, and will be similar to the one constructed for former chief minister Yashwant Rao Chavan. “The memorial will remind the people of the values followed by Balasaheb and the work done by him in Maharashtra and the entire country”, he added.