<p>Decks are cleared for the 'grand' memorial to honour Shiv Sena supremo and party founder the late Bal Thackeray.</p>.<p>On January 23, the Mumbai civic body-owned land at the Mayor's bungalow-compound t Shivaji Park, Dadar, where the memorial would be located, will be handed over to the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial Public Trust.</p>.<p>The day coincides with the 93rd birth anniversary of the firebrand leader and orator also known as the 'Hinduhridaysamrat.'</p>.<p>A memorial for Thackeray (January 23, 1926 - November 17, 2012) has been the Shiv Sena's long-pending demand.</p>.<p>During the function, a Ganesh pooja will also be performed.</p>.<p>The Sena and the Thackeray family led by Bal Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray, have been awaiting the bhoomi poojan for a long time.</p>.<p>Mayor Prof Vishwanath Mahadeshwar is moving out to the heritage bungalow at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan-Zoo at Byculla.</p>.<p>It may be recalled, a day after Bal Thackeray's death, his mortal remains were consigned to flames at the Shivaji Park, very near to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji.</p>.<p>The then Congress-NCP Democratic Front government in Maharashtra didn't allow any construction at the place, but the Sena-controlled Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on the first death anniversary completed a 800-sqm garden at the place where Bal Thackeray was consigned to flames.</p>.<p>The garden has a 3 meter topiary tree at its and houses as many as 15 flowering plants including Poinsettia, Petunia, Golden Cypress and Ixora.</p>.<p>However, a full-fledged memorial was still a dream for the Thackeray family and the many followers of Bal Thackeray.</p>.<p>The Shivaji Park— Where cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar have played— is very important place in the Shiv Sena's history.</p>.<p>The park was built in 1925 and was known for the political rallies held there.</p>.<p>Besides being a venue for the freedom fighters to gather in British India, post independence the park became a focal point of the Samyukta Maharashtra Chalval, which led to the formation of present-day state of Maharashtra in 1960.</p>.<p>Cutting across political parties, several top leaders have addressed rallies and meetings here.</p>.<p>The inner circumference of the park is 1.17 kilometre and its area is 1,12,937 square metre (27.907 acre).</p>.<p>The Mayor's bungalow is just opposite the Shivaji Park— Bal Thackeray launched his movement from this ground.</p>.<p>Since the Mayor's bungalow is a Grade II-B heritage structure much alterations would not be allowed.</p>
<p>Decks are cleared for the 'grand' memorial to honour Shiv Sena supremo and party founder the late Bal Thackeray.</p>.<p>On January 23, the Mumbai civic body-owned land at the Mayor's bungalow-compound t Shivaji Park, Dadar, where the memorial would be located, will be handed over to the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial Public Trust.</p>.<p>The day coincides with the 93rd birth anniversary of the firebrand leader and orator also known as the 'Hinduhridaysamrat.'</p>.<p>A memorial for Thackeray (January 23, 1926 - November 17, 2012) has been the Shiv Sena's long-pending demand.</p>.<p>During the function, a Ganesh pooja will also be performed.</p>.<p>The Sena and the Thackeray family led by Bal Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray, have been awaiting the bhoomi poojan for a long time.</p>.<p>Mayor Prof Vishwanath Mahadeshwar is moving out to the heritage bungalow at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan-Zoo at Byculla.</p>.<p>It may be recalled, a day after Bal Thackeray's death, his mortal remains were consigned to flames at the Shivaji Park, very near to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji.</p>.<p>The then Congress-NCP Democratic Front government in Maharashtra didn't allow any construction at the place, but the Sena-controlled Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on the first death anniversary completed a 800-sqm garden at the place where Bal Thackeray was consigned to flames.</p>.<p>The garden has a 3 meter topiary tree at its and houses as many as 15 flowering plants including Poinsettia, Petunia, Golden Cypress and Ixora.</p>.<p>However, a full-fledged memorial was still a dream for the Thackeray family and the many followers of Bal Thackeray.</p>.<p>The Shivaji Park— Where cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar have played— is very important place in the Shiv Sena's history.</p>.<p>The park was built in 1925 and was known for the political rallies held there.</p>.<p>Besides being a venue for the freedom fighters to gather in British India, post independence the park became a focal point of the Samyukta Maharashtra Chalval, which led to the formation of present-day state of Maharashtra in 1960.</p>.<p>Cutting across political parties, several top leaders have addressed rallies and meetings here.</p>.<p>The inner circumference of the park is 1.17 kilometre and its area is 1,12,937 square metre (27.907 acre).</p>.<p>The Mayor's bungalow is just opposite the Shivaji Park— Bal Thackeray launched his movement from this ground.</p>.<p>Since the Mayor's bungalow is a Grade II-B heritage structure much alterations would not be allowed.</p>