Throwing his weight behind Lal Kishenchand Advani on being annointed as Bharatiya Janata Party's prime minister designate, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Wednesday likened him to a "flower" that has bloomed in desert, adding to the support for the saffron party veteran from National Democratic Alliance allies.

In the first response from the BJP's oldest ally to Advani getting the honour, Thackeray also took the opportunity to say the country needed a strong Hindutva proponent to thwart 'Islamic aggression'.

"The description of a flower which has bloomed in a desert suits Advani more than it suits Atal Bihari Vajpayee," Thackeray said in an editorial in Sena newspaper Saamna.

"At 80, Advani is a year younger to me. So I have the authority to bless him. I wish that the words 'prime minister-in waiting' before Advani's name disappear and instead, it becomes prime minister Advani," he said.

Thackeray lauded Advani's role in strengthening Hindutva by organising the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation and the Rath Yatra.

Thackeray lambasted Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav for remarking that it would be a great misfortune for the country if Advani ever became prime minister.

"Stop your clown's antics," he bluntly told the railways minister.

"If agents of Dawood Ibrahim [Images] describe Sohrabuddin as Mahatma and want to gain power, then it's better that a person like Advani becomes prime minister," Thackeray said without elaborating.