Uddhav to address party workers today, as Shiv Sena turns 50

The Shiv Sena on Sunday will celebrate the party's golden anniversary through a series of events to be held across the city and a mega event at the NSE grounds in Goregaon, which will see chief Uddhav Thackeray address party cadre.

An exhibition capturing key moments of the party's 50-year journey in politics will be opened at the venue.

A coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji will be held and Maharashtra's folk traditions will be showcased in a culture programme. A film capturing the milestones of the Sena's long journey will also be screened on the occasion.

The Shiv Sena was founded by Bal Thackeray, a cartoonist-turned-political leader, on June 19, 1966, to fight for the rights of Marathi-speaking people.

The Shiv Sena bagged 42 seats in the Thane Municipal Corporation for the first time 1968.

The party sent its first MLA to the state assembly in 1972. The party's first Mayor was installed at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 1973.

In 2003, Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav was chosen over nephew Raj, as the executive president of the Shiv Sena.

The event comes when the party continues to be locked in a tussle with the BJP, with which it is an ally in power.

The event comes when the party continues to be locked in a tussle with the BJP, most recently over issues in the city, from the irregularities in the roads works to the construction of the Metro-3 line.