The Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' decision to hand over the sprawling Mayor's Bungalow for Bal Thackeray’s memorial is part of a political strategy to mend broken fences with alliance partner, the Shiv Sena - it has struck an emotive bond with Thackeray’s family. A Thackeray memorial was a foregone conclusion waiting to happen sooner than later. What has taken everybody by surprise is the decision taken by BJP government to hand over Mayor's heritage bungalow -Thackeray frequently visited this bungalow across Shivaji Park. Walking through a small courtyard, Rashmi pointed, “ This was the place where former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Balasaheb (Thackeray) held a meeting .” Uddhav went down memory lane recalling how he would come along with Thackeray to play cricket on the lawns. Balasaheb loved walking along this seashore, Rashmi added. [related-post] Both Uddhav and Rashmi admitted, “This place has a special connect with Balsaheb.” Fadnavis and Uddhav on Tuesday set aside their different political agendas and made the Thackeray memorial a common cause. Uddhav walked the extra mile to receive Fadnavis at the main entrance of Mayor's Bungalow. Fadnavis reciprocated by making Uddhav head of the public trust which would plan and design the Thackeray memorial. In the last one year, the BJP and Shiv Sena relationship can best be described as “topsy-turvey”. Despite being in the coalition, the Shiv Sena has spared no opportunity to slam the BJP government in centre to state. Worse, the Sena consistently attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.t the recent local bodies elections Fadnavis and Uddhav engaged in a bitter war of words. Even now the greater challenge remains ahead in 2017 BMC polls. Political managers in the BJP said, “ Politics is all about time and place. By giving agreeing to transform the mayor's bungalow, Fadnavis has not only won over Sena but also silenced his political rivals.” The Shiv Sena and BJP often came under attack from the MNS chief Raj Thackeray for not providing a suitable location for Thackeray's memorial. The Congress and NCP often ridiculed BJP for not keeping his word on a Thackeray memorial. By making Uddhav lead the memorial plans, Fadnavis has ensured the NCP and MNS are kept out of the project. At the same time to skirt public criticism, Fadnavis adopted the model used by Pawar for the Y B Chavan Centre at Nariman Point. Fadnavis said, “On the lines of Y B Chavan Centre, which came up through public trust lead by Pawar, the Thackeray memorial would also have a public trust headed by Uddhav.”
