Besides, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar also paid homage to Bal Thackeray, saying he gave political voice to Marathi Manoos. NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil also paid their obeisances to Bal Thackeray at Shivaji Park in Mumbai today.
Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray paid tribute to party supremo Balasaheb Thackeray at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. Uddhav's wife Rashmi and his son Aaditya Thackeray also paid tributes to the founder of the Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also paid homage to Balasaheb Thackeray.
Watch | Tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray before alliance formation
Born on January 23, 1926, in Pune, Thackeray had begun his professional career as a cartoonist with the English-language daily 'The Free Press Journal'.
He later quit his professional job and founded the Shiv Sena in 1966 to advocate for the interests of the people of Maharashtra in Mumbai's political and professional landscape.
Thackeray was also the founder of the Marathi-language newspaper 'Saamana'. He did not hold any official positions during his political career.
Thackeray breathed his last on November 17, 2012, after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 86.