On his 79th birthday, a few hours after meeting nephew Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray dared him to launch his own party. He also warned Raj against using his photographs on posters or banners. “Let Raj launch his party, prepare his armoury. We will bring out our ammunition later,’’ Thackeray told supporters at a function.“Till today, in all rallies, I have had Uddhav on my right and Raj to my left. But, today, Pramod Mahajan is sitting on my right,’’ he said. Thackeray hinted that he was not thinking about a patch up with Raj at this stage. He advised Raj: “If you can’t do without me, come back, don’t feel shy. I have not liked what you did. I did not think you, who I have watched grow up on my shoulders, would do this. But, don’t use my pictures, that creates confusion in people’s minds. Let people decide what they want.’’BJP leader Pramod Mahajan made it clear that the Sena would always get the BJP support. “Once we have given support, it is forever. It is wholesale support, not retail. It was given because the party supports Hindutva, it is not person based,’’ Mahajan said. Meanwhile, Thackeray offered NCP chief Sharad Pawar support in case he became the prime minister of the country. In an editorial published in party mouthpiece Saamna, Thackeray said: ‘‘A Marathi manoos should become the prime minister some day and in the present situation only Sharad Pawar has the capability to be one.’’ The Sena’s ultimate struggle for survival would be in February 2007 when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation would go to polls.
