Thackeray had also supported the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975 when most of the other parties were vehemently protesting against it.
As the news spread, several party workers assembled outside his residence, `Matoshree', in suburban Bandra, where security has been stepped up.
'How does one fill the vacuum left by such tall figures?' he asked.
Photographer Gopal Shetty sent us these exclusive photographs of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, which we reproduce along with quotes from the ailing leader.
Raj was dubbed as 'Dhanajirao' -- a euphemism for one who is wealthy or hankers after money -- by his uncle and Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
A Mumbai court on Monday issued summons to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and asked him to remain present in court on September 20 in connection with a petition filed by Nationalist Congress Party activist Munna Tripathi.
As the Shiv Sena marks 60 years, political experts highlight the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction's existential crisis and the Eknath Shinde-led group's struggle for relevance in the face of a dominant BJP, a significant shift from the party's historical 'elder brother' status in Maharashtra.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat met Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray at the latter's residence in suburban Bandra on Thursday.
The Shiv Sena chief blamed the Maharashtrian population for the party's defeat in the assembly polls in Maharashtra.
The Shiv Sena chief said there is still ample time for the formation of the next government and he had not yet decided about the chief ministerial candidate. He ruled out any race for leadership within the Sena.
The Mumbai Cricket Association's Managing Committee on Tuesday decided to contact the family of late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and seek their consent to name the media box at the Wankhede Stadium after him.
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Saturday asked politicians to stop glorifying the resilient spirit of Mumbai in the aftermath of the November 26 terror attack and show 'the iron will' to engage the Indian armed forces in a decisive battle to crush the hostile neighbour. In a sarcastic reference to the much-hyped spirit of Mumbai, Thackeray said even after the 1993 serial bomb blasts, the city was back to its chores the next day and the stock market too transacted business.
It was supposed to be a Maharashtra Day speech, however for Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray turned it into a Sena rally.
'What is this Valentine Day? In what way it is related to Indian culture? It is a rotten imported culture thriving on the neo-rich with easy money to squander,' he said in a front page comment in the party mouthpiece Saamna on Thursday.
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday said that Pranab Mukherjee should begin his tenure as President by rejecting the mercy plea of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and create history. Congratulating Mukherjee on his election as the 13th President, Thackeray said we have great expectations from Pranab Mukherjee.
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray demanded a ban on the controversial Indian Premier League (IPL) "to save cricket".
The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, whose elected members assaulted Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi in the Maharashtra assembly for taking oath in Hindi, on Tuesday warned him on speaking against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
Mumbai limped back on its feet on Monday, a day after the cremation of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray as taxis and auto rickshaws plied on the roads and markets opened up gradually.
Last year, Thackeray had announced he would no longer address public rallies on a regular basis.
Sena sources said Thackeray's son Uddhav will not be present during the meeting.
I have pledged that the Sena will win maximum number of seats in the municipal elections in Maharashtra, says Uddhav Thackeray
Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's 2nd death anniversary on Monday saw BJP reaching out to Sena with a promise to construct a memorial befitting the leader's stature as it brought together the squabbling claimants to his legacy-son and successor Uddhav and nephew Raj of MNS.
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray demanded a ban on Tuesday on the controversial Indian Premier League "to save cricket." "The ongoing controversy involving IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor has maligned the image of the 'gentleman's game'. Ban the IPL to save the game of cricket," he said in a statement on Tuesday night.
The Shiv Sena chief's comments come in the background of reports that the BJP is keen to allow the NCP to enter the NDA.
Rubbishing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray's 'hollow sympathy' for him over the Lok Sabha's privileges committee summons issue, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Wednesday told his nephew that he need not bother."We are competent to tackle the case. You should not worry," Thackeray said in an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.Raj has threatened not to allow officials and people's representative from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to enter Mumbai.
"Balasaheb sent Raj a bouquet of flowers and they spoke on the phone this morning, as they do every year on Raj'sbirthday," a source close to Raj said in Mumbai.
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Wednesday described Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray as the new Mohammad Ali Jinnah and said his estranged nephew was intent on dividing Marathi people.
A white shawl draped on his left shoulder, rudraksha beads around his neck, red tilak on the forehead and sporting dark sunglasses, Kantilal Mishra bore a striking similarity to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray who had mesmerised lakhs of Shiv Sainiks.
Within a week of Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray asking private FM radio channels to air Marathi songs, 94.3 Radio One has decided to have a dedicated weekly show for Marathi music.
The Shiv Sena, an ex-BJP ally which has been a strong supporter of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, congratulated the people of the country over the long-awaited foundation stone laying ceremony for the grand temple.
Two Lok Sabha MPs from Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena-UBT, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, have confirmed their defection to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, citing reasons including a fund crunch and Thackeray's absence from local body polls. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde have virtually acknowledged the success of 'Operation Tiger', aimed at splitting Thackeray's faction.
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who has been in a local hospital for a week, would remain there for another two-thee days, doctors attending him said.
Facing revolt by 6 Lok Sabha MPs of his party, Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said he was ready to quit his post if the party didn't have faith in him, while his opponent and Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde hinted at more defections from the rival camp.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday visited Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's memorial in Mumbai and paid floral tributes to him on the occasion of Guru Purnima.
A day after an advertisement with photos of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the talking point in the state, an ad on the state's ruling alliance appeared in Marathi dailies on Wednesday featuring leaders like Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.
In an apparent reference to the buzz of six rebel Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MPs switching sides, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said this is just a trailer and the movie is yet to come, indicating more defections could be in offing in the rival faction.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray pens tribute to his uncle, Bal Thackeray, recalling their bond and the pain of leaving the family home after quitting Shiv Sena.
The statue is located at the busy roundabout between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya and National Gallery of Modern Art in south Mumbai.
