Thackeray ill, cancels poll tour

A day after son Uddhav said his father was perfectly fit to campaign for the October 13 Assembly elections, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray cancelled an election tour of Marathwada and Vidarbha owing to ill-health.

In a statement, Thackeray said though he was keen to address public meetings at Jalna in Marathwada and Darvha in Vidarbha, he had to cancel his itinerary as he was unwell. 8216;8216;Please forgive me. I am not in a position to campaign. When I was preparing to leave, I developed chest pain followed by trouble in the food-pipe,8217;8217; Thackeray said. 8216;I have lost my physical strength,8217;8217; the 79-year-old Sena leader said, asking Sena and BJP workers to ensure that the saffron flag is unfurled at the Mantralaya.

A week ago, Thackeray had an endoscopy and has been unwell since. On October 1, Uddhav had said his father was being treated in a private hospital and that he would be available for campaign thereafter. Thackeray8217;s absence from the scene is being seen as a jolt to the saffron combine, since former PM A.B. Vajpayee too has cancelled his tour.