Uddhav takes father's powers, but not Sena 'pramukh' title

"There will not be another Sena Pramukh," Uddhav said in an interview published in today's edition of his party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

He said Bal Thackeray, who passed away on November 17, will always be Shiv Sena "pramukh" and "Hinduhriday samrat."

Though Uddhav has declined to accept the mantle of Sena chief formally, the party has handed him all the decision-making powers that rested with Bal Thackeray.

"An important meeting of Sena leaders took place yesterday...It was decided in the meeting to hand over all the powers that rested with Balasaheb to Uddhav," party spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said adding that the party will be united under Uddhav's leadership to fulfil Balaasheb's dreams.

"The atmosphere at the meeting was charged with emotions," Raut said.

Those present apart from Uddhav included Raut, former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, Sudhir Joshi, Leeladhar Dake, Subhash Desai, Ramdas Kadam and Gajanan Kirtikar.

Asked about the controversy over memorial for Bal Thackeray, Uddhav said he did not wish to involve himself in it. "The controversy is unwarranted," he noted.

Uddhav said he is still finding it difficult to believe that the Sena patriarch is no more. "But, I have to start afresh. Whenever I am alone, I am overwhelmed with memories, feel he is still around and want to meet him. Countless Shiv Sainiks also feel the same," he said.

"I want to tell the Shiv Sainiks to overcome this grief and prepare to fight on the path shown by Balasaheb," he added.

Uddhav said his father's health started deteriorating after his (Uddhav's) second angioplasty procedure on November 4. MORE