Bal Thackeray -- pictured in January 17, 1993 at his residence in Bandra -- warning of a violent backlash if Mumbai slumdwellers continued their four-day protest against the state government following the police killing of a dozen people. Thackeray, who was facing calls from opposition parties for his government to quit over the killings warned 'just as there are limits to your patience, there are also limits to patience of Shiv Sena activists.'

Bal Thackeray -- pictured in January 17, 1993 at his residence in Bandra -- warning of a violent backlash if Mumbai slumdwellers continued their four-day protest against the state government following the police killing of a dozen people. Thackeray, who was facing calls from opposition parties for his government to quit over the killings warned 'just as there are limits to your patience, there are also limits to patience of Shiv Sena activists.'

Thackeray places powder on the forehead of the new Maharashtra Chief Minister, Manohar Joshi (R), March 17, 1995 during Holi celebrations at Thackeray's residence

Thackeray places powder on the forehead of the new Maharashtra Chief Minister, Manohar Joshi (R), March 17, 1995 during Holi celebrations at Thackeray's residence

Bal Thackeray holds up the list of party candidates on January 9, 1998, for the national polls in which his party, in alliance with the BJP, was making a bid to capture power at New Delhi

Bal Thackeray holds up the list of party candidates on January 9, 1998, for the national polls in which his party, in alliance with the BJP, was making a bid to capture power at New Delhi

Bal Thackeray speaks with supporters as he leaves party headquaters July 29, 1999, where he met party workers to discuss the national elections to be held in September. The Indian election commission has barred Thackeray from voting or holding public office for six years for inciting Hindu-Muslim violence while on the campaign trail

Bal Thackeray speaks with supporters as he leaves party headquaters July 29, 1999, where he met party workers to discuss the national elections to be held in September. The Indian election commission has barred Thackeray from voting or holding public office for six years for inciting Hindu-Muslim violence while on the campaign trail

Bal Thackeray sits at an emergency meeting with Indian Home Minister L. K. Advani January 21, 1999 in Mumbai. Thackeray then made the decision to suspend his party's violent campaign to disrupt Pakistan's cricket tour of India just hours before the Pakistan tourists were to land in New Delhi, following the emergency meeting with Advani

Atal Behari Vajpayee (R) along with the alliance Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray waves to crowds on February 25, 1998. Vajpayee vowed that if he was made the next Indian prime minister he would take back Pakistan administered Kashmir at the election rally on the Shavaji park ground in central Mumbai

Atal Behari Vajpayee (R) along with the alliance Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray waves to crowds on February 25, 1998. Vajpayee vowed that if he was made the next Indian prime minister he would take back Pakistan administered Kashmir at the election rally on the Shavaji park ground in central Mumbai

Bal Thackeray looks tense as he speaks to the media, July 21, 2000, at his residence in Mumbai, when he said he had asked his supporters not to resort to any violence despite reports of his possible arrest. But Sena warned that any attempt to arrest the party chief would be challenged in the streets rather than the courts. The state government had sought 27 companies of security forces to maintain law and order in the possibility of Thackeray's arrest. Bal Thackeray's son, Udhav (L) sat beside his father

Bal Thackeray looks tense as he speaks to the media, July 21, 2000, at his residence in Mumbai, when he said he had asked his supporters not to resort to any violence despite reports of his possible arrest. But Sena warned that any attempt to arrest the party chief would be challenged in the streets rather than the courts. The state government had sought 27 companies of security forces to maintain law and order in the possibility of Thackeray's arrest. Bal Thackeray's son, Udhav (L) sat beside his father

Lata Mangeshkar (L) being welcomed by Bal Thackeray on March 5, 2001 at a concert in aid of the Gujarat earthquake victims held at the Shivaji Park grounds in Mumbai. Looking on is cricket master blaster Sachin Tendulkar (2nd L) and film superstar Amithab Bachchan.

Lata Mangeshkar (L) being welcomed by Bal Thackeray on March 5, 2001 at a concert in aid of the Gujarat earthquake victims held at the Shivaji Park grounds in Mumbai. Looking on is cricket master blaster Sachin Tendulkar (2nd L) and film superstar Amithab Bachchan.