The ongoing Mela in Maharashtra's Godhri village in Jalgaon district replaces the significant Pohra Devi pilgrimage, which some community members say is aimed at wooing Banjaras into the Hindu fold.
The Thackeray-led party intends to project Deshmukh ahead of the next elections by providing him with the necessary support for the party's consolidation.
Food and Drug administration minister Sanjay Rathod, Karnataka MP Dr Umesh Jadhav, MP Dr Shrikant Shinde, Balasahebchi Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske and Banjara Seva Sangh president Shankar Pawar were present at the felicitation event.