Thackeray`s will: Son gets Sena, nephew a new boss: Indian Express

Ending speculation over his succession and hinting that his public life was almost over, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today handed over the party reins to son Uddhav, naming him the Sena working president. Moments after the ‘‘coronation’’ of Uddhav in this picturesque hill station, Thackeray made it clear that ‘‘Uddhav will lead the party till Shiv Sainiks want him to.’’ Claiming he had not imposed his son on the party, he said Uddhav’s name was proposed by cousin Raj — the more charismatic of the two, Raj was in the running for the top Sena job but lost out despite being exonerated in the Ramesh Kini murder case — and was endorsed by all present. Uddhav’s elevation was not easy, given the fact that Thackeray had all along criticised the Congress for its dynastic rule. But today, as he addressed the media, Uddhav and Raj sat beside him. To a query on differences between the two heir apparents, Thackeray said ‘‘certain people’’ and the media were responsible for spreading the word to try and split the family. ‘‘It’s all over now. They will work together.’’ Raj’s future role, he said, would be decided by Uddhav.
Critical of the Election Commission, he said it was for political parties to decide organisational structure and the Commission had no role in it. Uddhav, on his part, said he had ‘‘no words’’ to describe his feelings. He promised to follow his father’s example of staying away from governance if the party were to return to power.

Speaking to newsmen, Thackeray conceded his public life was almost over. Sena insiders said his health worries prompted him to elevate his son.
Although he showed up in Mahabaleshwar on Monday, he did not make an appearance before partymen. As he got off the car for the ceremony today, Sainiks were heard saying ‘‘Saheb is tired now.’’

The Sena also announced a 13-member national executive, naming Bal Thackeray, Manohar Joshi, Sudhir Joshi, Madhukar Sarpotdar, Leeladhar Dake, Subhash Desai, Satish Pradhan, Dattaji Nalawade, Pramod Navalkar, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Narayan Rane and Deewakar Rawate.