Bal Thackeray rules out active campaigning for Shiv Sena- BJP

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has virtually ruled out his personal participation in the saffron brigade's poll campaign in Maharashtra, saying age was a debilitating factor that will keep him away from the crowds he loved to address.

In the concluding part of his interview in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' published on Tuesday, Thackeray said he and Atal Bihari Vajpayee-- the two star campaigners in the last elections for NDA in the state--- were "feeling bad at not being able to address meetings due to health reasons but this could not be helped."

The 84-year-old Sena patriarch whose videographed speech was relayed at Shiv Sena- BJP's rally at Sunday's Shivaji Park that inaugurated its campaign, made it clear that the mantle of the party he floated around four decades ago now rested with his son Uddhav.

Thackeray recalled that when he launched Shiv Sena at a rally at Shivaji Park, his father, who was called 'Prabodhankar'( he one who creates social awareness) had declared that he had handed over his son (Bal Thackeray) to Maharashtra for its cause.

"Today I would like to repeat these lines. I have handed over Uddhav to all of you. Take care of him," Thackeray said.

The Sena chief's statement came even as leaders of Shiv Sena and BJP spoke of having at least one public meeting addressed by the senior Thackeray towards the end of campaigning to boost the prospects of the Saffron alliance.