Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray did what he does best -- make headlines. Explaining what makes nephews turn against their uncles, Bal Thackeray launched a veiled attack on estranged nephew Raj, saying nephews get 'tickled' when they see their uncles being hailed.

"Leadership goes into their heads. When they see their uncles being hailed by the masses, they get 'gudgulya' (tickled)," Thackeray said, in reply to a query on the rise of nephews in Maharashtra's political families -- for instance, Raj Thackeray, Ajit Pawar (Sharad Pawar's nephew) and Gopinath Munde's estranged nephew Dhananjay.

"He (Raj) is the one who broke away from us. He was moulded in Matoshri (the Sena chief's bungalow in suburban Bandra)," Thackeray said, in an interview to a Marathi news channel.

When asked if he thought Raj would return, Thackeray said, "Wanting (for Raj to return) is one thing. But after all, it is the Thackeray blood (in him)."