Bal Thackeray's demise a major loss to Maharashtra, the NDA, the country: BJP

New Delhi: Mourning the death of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray who passed away on November 17, the BJP said that his demise is a major loss to Maharashtra, to the NDA and the country. Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj tweeted saying she is terribly pained to hear that "the Lion is dead". BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said, "We have lost a very great fighting leader and a great person. He was the tallest leader of our alliance in Maharashtra."

BJP patriarch LK Advani said, "A political giant has departed. It is rare that I have seen in these 65 years of independent India, a political leader who has left such a deep imprint on the country's events as Bal Thackeray."

Congress, too, expressed grief on Thackeray's death and said that he had an important role to play in Maharashtra politics. "Shiv Sena was known because after his name. We pray for his family and supporters. May the almighty give them power to pass through this tough phase," said Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi.

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  A young Bal Thackeray engrossed in his work.

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  Thackeray's cartoons were full of wit and satire.

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  A powerful orator himself, he admired Hitler's public speaking abilities.

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  He founded the Shiv Sena in 1966.

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  His political philosophy was largely shaped by his father Keshav Sitaram Thackeray, a leading figure in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.

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  Bal Thackeray was a controversial figure; he even voiced support for LTTE guerrillas in Sri Lanka.

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  He turned Shiv Sena into a potent political force in Maharashtra.

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  His charismatic personality captured the attention of a substantial section of Maharashtrians in and around Mumbai.

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  He received a major jolt in 2006 when his nephew and one of his party's pillars, Raj, decided to part ways and float his own Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

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  After the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, he strongly spoke against even playing cricket with Pakistan and objected to Pakistani players being included in IPL teams.

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  Over the last two years, his age was taking its toll on the Sena supremo.

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  His supporters loved him, many hated his ideas but no one can deny that he single-handedly turned the Sena into one of India's most powerful and feared regional forces.

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Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj tweeted saying she is terribly pained to hear that \"the Lion is dead\".

President Pranab Mukherjee also expressed grief on the demise of the Marathi leader. BJP leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi also condoled Thackeray's death and said that he was an epitome of courage, valour. "Since the past few days, the entire nation was praying for him. He fought like a warrior, but in the end all us had to lose him. On a personal level, he was very affectionate towards me. I lost a guiding force," Modi said.

Anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Balasaheb no more. May his soul Rest in Peace. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family." Author and columnist Shobhaa De also tweeted, "He was unabashed about being seen as an autocrat. He was an iron man. It was the fear that he generated that brought Mumbai to its knees when he wanted it."

Union Minister and Congress MP Milind Deora too expressed sorrow on the death of the 86-year-old leader. "Ideologies and politics aside, Balasaheb was unique and his influence on Maharashtra politics is undeniable. Often imitated but never duplicated," Deora tweeted.

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