India, Nov. 22 -- The official inauguration of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Nerul on Friday was supposed to be a show of unity for the ruling Mahayuti coalition. But the evening's inaugural event witnessed much political discord, as deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde stayed away from the ceremony, leaving the mantle to BJP leader and Airoli MLA Ganesh Naik.

The statue, constructed at a cost of Rs.46 lakh, became the centre of high-voltage political drama last Sunday when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray unveiled it forcibly, alleging it had been awaiting inauguration for more than six months. Thackeray and other MNS leaders and activists were subsequently booked for rioting, unlawfu...