Setting political differences aside, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday shared the stage with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for Ganesh pujan and vastu pujan for the Bal Thackeray memorial at Mayor Bungalow in Dadar. Wednesday was the 93rd birth anniversary of Bal Thackeray.

The land for the memorial was transferred by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to the Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak Trust, set up to oversee the structures construction. The meeting of the leaders assumes significance as the BJP and the Sena are presently at loggerheads with the latter announcing to go solo in the general elections.

After exchanging pleasantries, Mr. Fadnavis and Mr. Thackeray chatted behind closed doors for a few minutes. A Sena leader said the leaders had a brief meeting over tea. This is not the place to hold political discussions, she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the bhoomipujan of the memorial, which is slated to be held within two weeks. The BJP, however, said Mr. Modis arrival also depends on alliance talks between the parties.

The Sena has continued its anti-BJP line. An editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana said, The present condition and the path of the country is not right. Today, the nation needs to be ruled by men. Even today, borders are being attacked by Pakistanis, soldiers are dying in Kashmir; however, we are showing our josh by taking credit for the surgical strike.

Mr. Fadnavis in 2015 had declared that the Thackeray memorial would be constructed at the Mayor Bungalow built in 1928 on around 11,500 square metres. On Tuesday, the State Cabinet had approved ₹100 crore for the project, which will be funded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The MMRDA, which will undertake the construction of the memorial, will later be reimbursed by the State government.