Balasaheb would have toppled govt: Joshi on memorial issue

In a veiled criticism of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, senior party leader Manohar Joshi said tonight that the late Bal Thackeray would not have been as much tolerant on the issue of his father's memorial.
"Had Balasaheb been alive and had the government been delaying (construction of) his father's memorial, he would have toppled the government," Joshi said at a function here.
The late Sena supremo's memorial is supposed to come up at Shivaji Park here, but it is yet to be built though almost a year has passed since his demise.
The former Chief Minister clarified that he was not criticising Uddhav, but was merely pointing out the difference between his and his father's style of functioning.

Joshi, who is reportedly keen on contesting the Lok Sabha election from Mumbai central constituency, is said to be miffed with Uddhav, amid reports that the Sena was considering fielding someone else from the seat.
"Had the Sena been aggressive as in the old days on the issue of Balasaheb's memorial, it would have materialised by now," Joshi said.
The former Lok Sabha Speaker also said that Uddhav and his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray should come together in order to dislodge the Congress-led government in Maharashtra.