"I'm fit as a fiddle", said 80-year-old Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray as the party on Tuesday said there may be a conspiracy by 'anti-Sena elements' behind the speculation about his health.
Mumbai, of late, has been abuzz with reports of the Sena chief's health. There has been no let-up in rumours, despite Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Tuesday front-paging Thackeray's reaction to these reports.
"I am fit as a fiddle with the blessings of party workers," Thackeray was quoted as saying.
"We feel this may be a part of the conspiracy by anti-Sena elements," Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe told PTI.
"Preparations for Thackeray's birthday on January 23 and the party's mega convention in Shegaon on January 12 are going on in full swing and party cadres are in an upbeat mood. Some people don't like to see Shiv Sainiks in an upbeat mood," Gorhe said.
"There should have been a full-stop to these rumours after the Saamana clarification. It seems that those who feel frustrated in other parties want to foment trouble for the Sena at any cost," she said.
Gorhe also blamed the 'rat race' in the media for 'breaking news' for such reports. "Instead of reporting news, there are attempts to create news," she said.