Bal Thackeray turns 81

Mumbai, Jan 23 (UNI) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today completed 80 years of age.

On the occasion of Mr Thackeray's birthday today, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance released its manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

Several programmes were organised by the Shiv Sena on the occasion. The Sena mouthpiece ''Saamna'' too published a 68-page supplement, on the occasion, that carried articles on Mr Thackeray's life and personality, written among others by cricketer Javed Miandad, Janata Party president Dr Subramaniyam Swamy, and journalist-litterateur Arun Sadhu.

Mr Thackeray, who commenced his career as a cartoonist, started his own political organisation, the Shiv Sena, 41 years back and the party over the years turned powerful enough to have even conquered power in the state, jointly with the BJP, in 1995.

UNI