The Hindu : Uddhav to succeed Bal Thackeray

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 31, 2003

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Uddhav to succeed Bal Thackeray

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI Jan. 30. Now it is official: Uddhav Thackeray, son of the Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray, is next in line in the party's succession game and it has his cousin, Raj Thackeray's apparent consent. At a meeting at Mahabaleshwar today, Raj formally proposed that Uddhav be elected executive president of the party's national executive committee though he has himself lost out. Soon after, Uddhav said he had his father's blessings and he was chosen because "they all believe I can deliver.''

Uddhav and Raj are two different persons with the same ambition: both want to get into the top slot. Uddhav, a former student of the J.J. School of Arts, with wildlife photography as his passion, has fine-tuned himself into the succession route by his skill in evolving strategies for the party's growth.

A reticent, shy person, he has grown more confident since his first public appearance in Nagpur at a rally organised by Raj in 1993. Raj, also a student of the J.J. School of Arts, is a well-known caricaturist. Known for his public speaking skills and ability to speak the language of the cadre, he is the more public face of the party.

Though the formalities were completed, Mr. Bal Thackeray insisted that his son be "elected'' by all. "I asked them and they all agreed. I am not imposing. Those who get elected do so because of their work,'' he said.

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