The impasse over the makeshift memorial to late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray continued for yet another day, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) adopted a wait and watch approach towards the issue.
Sena leaders on Thursday failed to meet chief minister Prithviraj Chavan for the second day in a row.
The memorial has been the subject of a long-drawn-out tussle as party members want to retain a small samadhi at the cremation site despite being told to take down the structure right away.
The Sena had said they would meet Chavan to seek an end to the matter. Civic body, insiders said, assured the Sena that no action would be taken against the memorial till they meet the CM.
“Demolishing the memorial is a risky affair and we cannot take an arbitrary decision by ourselves. Hence, we have asked the Sena to approach the CM, whose word would be final in this matter,” said a source in the BMC administration.
The Sena decided to approach the CM immediately after the civic body served it a notice, asking it to vacate the space occupied by the makeshift memorial at Shivaji Park.
However, as the notice did not mention any time frame, the Sena decided to see how the state approached the issue.
Rahul Shewale, senior Sena corporator and standing committee chairman, said, “We will not take down the memorial. We are trying to meet the chief minister and find a solution to this impasse. Our party will take a call on this only after December 7.”
Home minister RR Patil told the media that BMC officials would be provided police protection when the makeshift memorial would be removed.