Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray dies after prolong illness
Mumbai: Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray died on Saturday after having been critically ill for the past few days. The 86-year-old cartoonist-turned politician, known for his strong views and speaking his mind, sometimes bordering on the offensive, breathed his last at 3.30 PM at his residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra.
“He had suffered a cardiac arrest. We could not revive him despite our best efforts. He breathed his last at around 3:30 PM,” Dr Jalil Parkar, who treated the Sena supremo, told reporters after emerging from Thackeray residence on Saturday evening.
Thackeray is survived by sons Jaidev and Uddhav, who is the Executive president of the party. His nephew Raj had split from the family and found his own Maharashtra Navnirman Sena over six years ago following a succession row.
Thakrey founded the Shiv Sena in 1966 on the plank of job security for the Marathi manoos (sons of the soil) which translated into attacks on South Indians whom he had blamed for taking away the opportunities from the locals.
Thackeray, who had relegated himself to the background after anointing Uddhav as his successor, had been suffering from respiratory problems and pancreatic disease. Senior party leaders, Raj Thackeray along with family members and other political leaders rushed to ‘Matoshree’.
