The state government and the Shiv Sena seem to finally be in agreement on the issue of a memorial to late Sena chief Bal Thackeray. It is likely to accept the Sena’s proposal to have a plaque at Shivaji Park and a memorial across the road near the mayor’s bungalow.
Sena sources said they had also decided to alter their stand on renaming Shivaji Park as Shiv Tirth and will ask that the plaque and garden strip be named Shiv Tirth instead.
Following a hectic round of discussions and negotiations in both chief minister Prithviraj Chavan’s camp and among Shiv Sena leaders, Sena executive president Uddhav
Thackeray is said to have called Chavan, following which they came to an understanding. Home minister RR Patil is said to have helped break the logjam on the issue.
Uddhav is likely to issue a statement in party mouthpeice Saamna, saying the Sena does not want a full-fledged memorial at Shivaji Park, and will be happy with a plaque on the Shivaji Park ground.