Expect plenty of fireworks on May 1 this year as the state celebrates 50 years of its formation.
Following Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray's announcement for a mega celebration on May 1, Sena executive president Uddhav too has, not to be left behind, addressed a press conference on Saturday unveiling his plans for Maharashtra's formation day.
The Sena leader said they have planned a mega event at Shivaji Park where Lata Mangeshkar would be performing a song based on the foundation of the state.
As a prelude to the mega event the party would also be paying tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives in their struggle for the statehood of Maharashtra under the banner of Samyukta Maharashtra movement.
The Thackeray cousins, competing for Marathi 'pride', are expected to go the whole hog to show who is a better upholder the Marathi cause.
"A tribute will be paid to the 105 martyrs who shed their blood for the sake of a unified state by giving our blood," said Thackeray. He said the party would be organising a blood donation drive on an 'unprecedented' scale, called Mahayagya at the NSE grounds, Goregaon on April 25.
Party workers would also be celebrating the occasion by bursting crackers and having a fire works display.
A tribute would also be paid at Hutatma Chowk by party workers.
Raj had a month ago announced about a huge celebration to observe the occasion. He had criticised the state government for not doing much to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the state and said that people should light up the sky with crackers on May 1.
Uddhav's attempt to organise such a programme is being seen as a way to showing that the Sena still champions the Marathi cause.
