Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UB) faction chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday skipped the unveiling of an oil painting of his late father and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray at the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Bhawan in Mumbai. The late Shiv Sena founder’s portrait was unveiled in the assembly by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena’s second faction. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shinde, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, unveiled the portrait at the Central Hall of Vidhan Bhavan on the occasion of Bal Thackeray’s 97th birth anniversary.
On the birth anniversary of respected Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, the Motibindu Free Campaign initiative launched by the Chief Minister’s Medical Aid Cell was launched. On this occasion, Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray was felicitated by showering flowers in the Legislature. pic.twitter.com/nbuUWV5JWv— Eknath Shinde – Eknath Shinde (@mieknathshinde) January 23, 2023
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Union Minister Narayan Rane, among others attended the event.
Both factions of the Shiv Sena – led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde – are currently engaged in a bitter legal battle as both claim the late Hindutva icon’s political legacy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said, “It is a matter of happiness for the Marathi people and Maharashtra that the oil portrait of leader Balasaheb Thackeray, who fought for the rights of the people, for the country’s self-respect, in the interest of Maharashtra Marathi people are being made to sit in the auditorium of Vidhan Bhawan.
Nilam Gore, leader of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, said, ‘When the Mandal Commission movement for OBCs started, Balasaheb Thackeray worked to bring more and more OBC people to power.’
Speaking at the event, Union minister Narayan Rane said, “Marathi people will get justice for Hindutva in Shiv Sena, that’s why we joined Shiv Sena. We didn’t even know about the ministerial post, we joined Shiv Sena with spirit.” ” working.”
Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aditya and other family members stayed away from the event. The father-son duo, along with other prominent Shiv Sena members (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), paid floral tributes at the late politician’s statue located a few kilometers away from the Vidhan Bhavan building in south Mumbai.