No one can replace Balasaheb, row over his memorial not required: Uddhav

Mumbai: The controversy over the Bal Thackeray memorial is unnecessary said his son and Shiv Sena Working President Uddhav Thackeray in his first interview after the Sena supremo's death. Uddhav in an interview to Sena's paper 'Saamna' said that the Sena will continue fighting for 'Marathi Manoos' and 'Hindutvavaad'.

Shiv Sena party workers have been demanding for a memorial at Shivaji Park but the Maharashtra government is yet to respond to it. Speaking on other party issues, Uddhav claimed no one could replace Bal Thackeray and he will remain the party's supremo.

However, opposing the demand state Congress on Saturday said no 'other' memorial should come up at the sprawling ground in central Mumbai. "Shivaji Maharaj is a god for people of Maharashtra. His memorial is already there at Shivaji Park," MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had said last week that the government would not do anything in violation of the law with regard to Sena's demand to set up the memorial at Shivaji Park. Thackeray was cremated at Shivaji Park - where he had addressed his followers at Dassera rallies for over 40 years - on November 18.

Uddhav will embark on a Maharashtra Yatra starting Monday in western Maharashtra's Kolhapur, where he will meet party workers and elected representatives from local bodies to Parliament. This will be his first independent attempt to reach out and strengthen his rapport with the Sena's rank and file after Thackeray's death last month.

Similar meetings for various regions shall be held on December 5 in Nashik, December 7 in Ratnagiri, December 14 in Nagpur and December 16 in Aurangabad. During those five days, Thackeray will meet activists from all the 35 districts of the state, besides workers of the Yuva Sena, headed by his son, Aditya, and other party organisations.