Bal Thackeray memorial gets Sharad Pawar push

The Shiv Sena’s attempt to construct a memorial for its late party supremo Bal Thackeray may get a Pawar push. NCP chief and union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar will lead an all-party effort to set up the memorial for Thackeray, whose first death anniversary on Sunday saw thousands of Shiv Sainiks flock to Dadar’s Shivaji Park to pay their respects.

“For the construction of the memorial, a committee consisting of people from all political parties will be formed under the leadership of Sharad Pawar...this committee will also consist of people from sectors like literature and art,” said Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut.

While the Mayor’s Bungalow at Dadar and the neighbouring club are said to be considered as possible locations for the memorial, Raut said not much discussion had been held regarding these sites.

Though many Shiv Sainiks insist that the memorial must be constructed on the Shivaji Park, the late Sena chief’s estranged son Jaidev has opposed the memorial either on the ground or on the Mahalaxmi race course.

Uddhav and Pawar, who were close to Thackeray Sr despite their political love-hate relationship, met on Sunday at Shivaji Park.

Sources said during the conversation, the issue of the memorial was broached and Uddhav reportedly told Pawar that he would not take the lead in this regard as it was not appropriate and called on his father’s friends across parties to do so, after which Pawar agreed to lead the effort.

“Uddhav is Balasaheb’s son, hence he must have felt it awkward to lead the effort,” said a Sena leader, when asked about Uddhav’s reticence and Pawar taking the lead.

Despite Thackeray attacking Pawar in his caustic ‘Thackri bhasha,’ the duo, who began their political career almost at the same time, shared an emotional bond.

In a speech in 1984, the Sena Tiger had roared that the next chief minister of Maharashtra would be Sharad Pawar, a prophecy fulfilled a few years later.