Shiv Sena (UBT) has demanded that government confer the Bharat Ratna on its late founder Balasaheb Thackeray on Republic Day. Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut highlighted Thackeray's role in advocating for Hindus and his support for construction of Ayodhya's Ram Mandir. Bal Thackeray started his career as a cartoonist and later became a politician. He founded Shiv Sena in 1966.