Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Friday signalled his formal withdrawal from active role in the party that he founded and built over four decades.
In a front-page write-up in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna, the 84-year-old Sena chief, addressing the Sainiks, said, "What is the point in meeting me when I have handed over the party affairs to Uddhav? Please understand that I get tired seeing hordes of workers who call on me after their meeting with Uddhav".
The senior Thackeray said, "Whenever Uddhav needs to consult me, he does so and we keep interacting whenever the situation demands. But it is taxing for me to meet the Sainiks as the age is catching up with me. I get exhausted seeing the never ending stream of Sainiks."
He cited Diwali as one such occasion that drained his energy.
"It is up to you to take care of my health," said Thackeray, who made his last public appearance at the traditional Dusherra rally of the Sena on October 9. The rally was addressed by Uddhav Thackeray, his son, for the first time who sought blessings of the Sainiks to carry on the mantle of his father.
The clear message to Sena workers from senior Thackeray today underlined that the battle lines were now exclusively drawn between the next generation of Thackerays --Uddhav and the estranged Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj, both trying to reinforce the Marathi 'manoos' agenda.