'Coronation' plan cancelled after Thackeray rebuff

MUMBAI: The intention, of formally coronating Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray as `Hinduhridaysamrat' (Emperor of Hindu hearts), may have been genuine but the man himself has nixed the plan.

"Whose coronation is it and who has been consulted for the same," Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Wednesday quoted 81-year-old Thackeray as saying, after reports of the coronation plan appeared in a leading Marathi daily in the last two days.

"I have so far neither indulged in such functions nor have I given permission to anyone to organise such an event," Thackeray, who turns 82 on January 23, said.

"Shiv Sena chief is a post given to me by the masses. I have long ago decided not to accept any positions of power, not to contest elections and never to write an autobiography," he said.

"The post of Sena chief is better than any `throne', so nobody should organise such a coronation function without consulting me," the Sena supremo said.

The organiser of the said event, one Awadhoot Bhise, had announced plans for a grand function, to formally 'coronate' Thackeray at central Mumbai's Shivaji Park, which is venue of the Sena chief's annual Dussehra rally. There were plans to fly the Sena chief from his Bandra home in a helicopter.

"We have decided to cancel the event, as Thackeray has turned down the proposal," Bhise said.