Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and other political leaders paid tributes to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray on his 97th birth anniversary on Monday.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said he would always cherish his interactions with the Maratha leader, one of the early pioneers of hardline Hindutva politics, who enjoyed a large following.