Thackeray in hospital; Sena anniversary function off

The foundation day function of the Shiv Sena, which completes 43 years on Friday, has been called off apparently due to hospitalisation of its chief Bal Thackeray, party sources said. Though Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe declined to link the development with the hospitalisation of Sena chief, there is speculation that concerns over Thackeray's health prompted the function being called off.

Thackeray, who set up the Sena in 1966 espousing the cause of the sons-of-the-soil, was admitted to Lilavati hospital in suburban Bandra on Thursday night for what the Sena spokesperson described as a routine medical check up. The ailing Sena chief has been a regular visitor at the hospital for the last couple of years due to age-related problems. The 82-year-old Thackeray has handed over the day-to-day functioning of the party to son Uddhav.