No BJP bigwig at Bal Thackeray's second death anniversary

MUMBAI: No senior BJP leader today visited the memorial of late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on his second death anniversary here.

BJP patriarch L K Advani was present during the first death anniversary at the late Sena leader's memorial.

However, after parting of ways between the BJP and Sena ahead of the recent Maharashtra Assembly polls and the "cold shouldering" by BJP of Sena's overtures to be included in the state Cabinet, the scene is different this time.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Australia, tweeted: "On Pujya Balasaheb Thackeray's Punya Tithi, I salute the great man who always lived for the people & stood for their well-being."

"The life of Pujya Balasaheb Thackeray continues to inspire us. He lives in the hearts of millions," Modi further tweeted.

Asked if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would be visiting Dadar's Shivaji Park to pay tributes to the late Sena chief, a BJP functionary told PTI that the visit was not on the agenda.

"A senior state minister may visit and pay tributes," he said.

Fadnavis took to twitter to pay his "humble tributes" to the "Hinduhridaysamrat" Thackeray on his second death anniversary.

The BJP leader also expressed as "ridiculous", reports that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was in touch with Sena president Uddhav Thackeray over that party's inclusion in the Fadnavis-led ministry.