Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray passes away

The Shiv Sena Supremo, affectionately called The Tiger, Bal Thackeray, passed away on Saturday after protracted illness. He was 86 and for a considerable period of time, the politician had been battling illness.

Thousands of supporters massed outside his residence as his death was announced at 4.55 p.m. to a shocked Maharashtra, whose political stage he dominated for over four decades with his hard, rightwing political views that often rocked the entire nation. He was born on 23 January, 1926. Thackeray started his career as a political cartoonist.

Condoling on his death, the Congress said that Thackeray played an important role in Maharashtra’s politics.  BJP leaders cancelled their dinner with the PM. The BJP said Thackeray’s death is a huge loss to Maharashtra, NDA and the country.

He is survived by his sons Jaidev and Uddhav, who is the executive president of the Shiv Sena, which Thackeray founded in 1966. His immediate family, nephew Raj Thackeray and the top leadership of the Shiv Sena were with him in his Bandra residence Matoshree in his last moments.

Shiv Sena supporters who had gathered outside Thackeray’s home broke down and tried to console each other. Thousands more are expected to reach Matoshree to express their grief. Security, already present in the area around Matoshree as well as Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party headquarters, has been stepped up again.

Initial reports suggest that Mr Thackeray’s body will be taken in a procession to the cremation. It is likely to go through several parts of Mumbai significant to Mr Thackeray, like Shivaji Park and Dadar, where the Shiv Sena party headquarters are located.

Thackeray had been unwell since July this year when he was admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital for breathlessness and constipation. He was released after a week in hospital, and was being nursed at his Bandra residence, Matoshree. The Sena chief was under constant medical supervision, with a team of doctors stationed at his home.

Hundreds of policemen and paramilitary Rapid Action Force personnel had been called in on Wednesday night, with barricades to restrict movement around the area. Party workers began gathering at the Thackeray residence as news spread that the Shiv Sena chief’s condition had deteriorated.

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Posted by Web Desk on Nov 17 2012. Filed under World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.