Sharmila Thackeray, Raj Thackeray's wifeWith the rise in his stature, Raj got more ambitious and started considering himself as the political heir of Bal Thackeray.
Here it is pertinent to point out that Raj had always tried to model himself after his uncle Bal Thackeray.
Like Bal Thackeray, Raj was acerbic in his comments and was always disdainful towards his opponents.
Once upon a time, even for political observers, Raj Thackeray appeared to be the perfect replacement for the ageing Bal Thackeray.
Raj Thackeray was hugely disappointed when his uncle and the then Shiv Sena supremo declared his son Uddhav Thackeray as his political heir in January 2003.