Shiv Sena:Uddhav to be empowered on Bal Thackeray's birthday

Mumbai, Jan 21:

is all set to be empowered as the president of

on his father

's birthday on Wednesday, Jan 23.

Confirming the news on Uddhav's elevation from party executive to party president, a party functionary close to the Thackerays was quoted as saying, "Uddhavji, who is now overseeing the work of Shiv Sena as executive president, will be elected as party president."

Even after Uddhav being made the Sena chief, party patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray will be called as Shiv Sena 'pramukh'. Uddhav will be declared party president during a national executive meeting on Jan 23.

Making a comment on the issue, Sena sources said, "Bal Thackeray will continue to remain the party supremo. All the guidelines to elect Uddhav Thackeray as party president will be followed as per the directions from the Election Commission (EC)."

Earlier Uddhav had claimed, "I am Balasaheb's son. He brought the party to this level. I assure you that I will take Shiv Sena one step ahead than my father."

Internal power tussles have been witnessed in the Sena units at Nashik, Kolhapur and Auranagabad in the last few weeks, putting a question mark on the party's prospects.

Referring to the tussles, Uddhav said, "Some people are saying that Shiv Sena will end....But I am saying I will not sit quiet till it is taken one step ahead."

Stating that Shiv Sena was playing a role in the national politics too, he reminded that the party opposed the visit by Pakistani women cricket team and also the participation of players from that country in Hockey League in the wake of brutal killing of two Indian soldiers at LoC.

OneIndia News
(With PTI inputs)