Bal Thackeray will continue as Shiv Sena supremo, says son Uddhav

Mumbai, Dec 2: Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna today frontpaged an interview given by party executive president Uddhav Thackeray to say that the late Bal Thackeray will continue as the party supremo. Says Uddhav: "There is only one Shiv Sena pramukh and one Hindu Hriday Samraat, and nobody else can become the Shiv Sena pramukh." Uddhav Thackeray will be on a statewide tour from Dec 3 till Dec 16 to keep the party's mass base intact. Say Uddhav: "I am saying this with courage, please come out of your grief and be ready to face the next battle. The battle will be a tough one. We have to march on the way shown by our Shiv Sena pramukh and score victory in this battle based on his thoughts. I will not let any of his dreams unfulfilled." "Shiv Sena has suffered an irreparable loss with the passing away of Balasaheb. Millions of people are in mourning. It is a shock both to our family and our society. This grief shall remain. Balasaheb wanted to attend the Dussehra rally, though we had shown him through video conferencing." Q: Balasaheb had told the people, the way you have looked after me, now look after Uddhav. Uddhav: Yes, it's true. Q: Now the time has come for you to look after the people. Uddhav: Yes, I am doing a son's duty. I will go before the people of Maharashtra in the first week of December. I won't be travelling the entire length and breadth of the state, but to some particular areas. I will travel the entire state in January and February....I will fulfil all the dreams of Balasaheb. Whether it is Marathi pride, fight for local people's interests, Hindutva, against Bangladeshi infiltrators, whatever. "Balasaheb was never in power, but his popularity was worldwide. There is an unnecessary dispute now over his memorial. I don't want to join this dispute, and there is no need for a dispute. Let those who love and respect Balasaheb decide." "I had promised Balasaheb to bring Shivshahi (rule of Shiv Sena) in this state and I will do so." "There is only one Shiv Sena pramukh and that is Balasaheb Thackeray, no one else. I don't have the capability to take on the mantle of Shiv Sena pramukh, but I will continue to fight for his ideals. There is no point in using phrases like former Shiv Sena pramukh or first Shiv Sena pramukh for him. He shall always be with us", said Uddhav Thackeray.