Editing Bal Thackeray (section)

=== 1999–2012 ===
On 28 July 1999, Thackeray was banned from voting and contesting in any election for six years from 11 December 1999 till 10 December 2005 on the recommendations of the Election Commission for indulging in corrupt practice by seeking votes in the name of religion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/NM1/Thackeray-votes-after-expiry-of-ban/Article1-16731.aspx |title=Thackeray votes after expiry of ban |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=26 April 2004 |access-date=14 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111201658/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/archives/thackeray-votes-after-expiry-of-ban/article1-16731.aspx |archive-date=11 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="Banned from voting">{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/revents/01/19990199.htm#jul |title=Banned from voting |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=28 July 1999 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030425223423/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/revents/01/19990199.htm |archive-date=25 April 2003 }}</ref> In 2000, he was arrested for his role in the riots but was released because the [[statute of limitations]] expired.<ref name="Time world" /> In 2002, Thackeray issued a call to form Hindu [[suicide bomber]] squads to take on the menace of terrorism.<ref name="Thackeray for Hindu suicide squads">{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Thackeray-for-Hindu-suicide-squads/articleshow/25248436.cms |title=Thackeray for Hindu suicide squads |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=15 October 2002 |access-date=27 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214152601/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-10-15/india/27292201_1_suicide-squads-annual-dussehra-rally-state-and-central-govenments |archive-date=14 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> In response, the Maharashtra government registered a case against him for inciting enmity between different groups.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=15895 |title=Case filed against Thackeray for urging anti-terror suicide-squads |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=25 August 2007  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181915/http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=15895 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> At least two organisations founded and managed by retired Indian Army officers, Lt Col Jayant Rao Chitale and Lt Gen. P.N. Hoon (former commander-in-chief of the Western Command), responded to the call with such statements as not allowing Pakistanis to work in India due to accusations against Pakistan for supporting attacks in India by militants.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Despite-Sena-threat-MNIK-opens-to-packed-theatres-across-country/articleshow/5564410.cms |access-date=28 February 2010 |title=Despite Sena threat, 'MNIK' opens to packed theatres across country |date=12 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811045755/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-12/india/28114312_1_multiplex-owners-inclusion-of-pakistani-players-single-screen-theatres |archive-date=11 August 2011 |work=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/rajdeepsardesai/1/61523/an-open-letter-to-uddhav-thackeray.html |title=An open letter to Uddhav Thackeray |date=12 February 2010 |publisher=IBN |access-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006062409/http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/rajdeepsardesai/1/61523/an-open-letter-to-uddhav-thackeray.html |archive-date=6 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the six-year voting ban on Thackeray was lifted in 2005, he voted for the first time in the 2007 [[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation|BMC]] elections.<ref name="Voting ban lifted">{{cite news |url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/oct/141009-Bal-Thackeray-Uddhav-Aditya-polling-booth-Election.htm |title=Thackeray ke Bal par... |newspaper=[[Mid-Day]] |access-date=14 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018072453/http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/oct/141009-Bal-Thackeray-Uddhav-Aditya-polling-booth-Election.htm |archive-date=18 October 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> Eight or nine cases against Thackeray and ''Saamna'' for inflammatory writings were not investigated by the government.<ref name=":2" />

Thackeray said that the Shiv Sena had helped the Marathi people in Mumbai, especially in the public sector.<ref name="Public sector, Threats against other communities, businesses owned especially by Guj and Marwaris/">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Sena-fate-From-roar-to-meow/articleshow/1311115.cms |title=Sena fate: From roar to meow |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=11 August 2006 |date=29 November 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016033917/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Sena-fate-From-roar-to-meow/articleshow/1311115.cms |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Thackeray believed that Hindus must be organised to struggle against those who oppose their identity and religion.<ref name="Marathi Manus">{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/11/24/stories/2003112400851000.htm |title=On the wrong track |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114142108/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/11/24/stories/2003112400851000.htm |archive-date=14 November 2007 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> Opposition leftist parties alleged that the Shiv Sena has done little to solve the problem of unemployment facing a large proportion of Maharashtrian youth during its tenure, in contradiction to its ideological foundation of 'sons of the soil.'<ref name="No deliveries">{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2025/stories/20031219008601500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114142151/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2025/stories/20031219008601500.htm |archive-date=14 November 2007 |title=Diversionary tactics |work=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] |access-date=8 August 2008 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

In 2006, Thackeray's nephew [[Raj Thackeray]] broke away from Shiv Sena to form the [[Maharashtra Navnirman Sena]] (MNS) during Thackeray's retirement and appointment of his son, [[Uddhav Thackeray|Uddhav]] rather than Raj as the leader of Shiv Sena. [[Narayan Rane]] also quit around that time.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Mishra |first=Ambarish |script-title=hi:राज महायात्रेत अलिप्त होते, कारण... |url=http://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/17276242.cms |language=mr |newspaper=[[Maharashtra Times]] |date=19 November 2012 |access-date=20 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122014303/http://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/17276242.cms |archive-date=22 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Sena acted as a "[[moral police]]" and opposed Valentine's Day celebrations.<ref name=":2" /> On 14 February 2006, Thackeray condemned and apologised for the violent attacks by its Shiv Sainiks on a private celebration in Mumbai. "It is said that women were beaten up in the Nallasopara incident. If that really happened, then it is a symbol of cowardice. I have always instructed Shiv Sainiks that in any situation women should not be humiliated and harassed."<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Thackeray-condemns-V-Day-attacks-by-Sainiks/articleshow/1419743.cms |title=Thackeray condemns V-Day attacks by Sainiks |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=18 February 2006 |location=Mumbai |access-date=13 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811045804/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-18/india/27813894_1_sena-mouthpiece-saamna-sena-chief-bal-thackeray-shiv-sainiks |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Thackeray and the Shiv Sena remained opposed to it, although they indicated support for an Indian alternative.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Thackeray-suggests-Indian-version-of-V-Day/articleshow/1413273.cms |title=Thackeray suggests Indian version of V-Day |date=13 February 2006 |access-date=13 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811045812/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-13/india/27806760_1_sena-chief-bal-thackeray-valentine-s-day-saamna |archive-date=11 August 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/right-wing-to-go-easy-on-couples-this-valentine-s-day-175815 |title=Right-wing to go easy on couples this Valentine's Day |work=NDTV.com |access-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217061835/http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/right-wing-to-go-easy-on-couples-this-valentine-s-day-175815 |archive-date=17 February 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007, he was briefly arrested and let out on bail after referring to Muslims as 'Green Poison' during a Shiv Sena rally.<ref name="Time world" />

On 27 March 2008, in protest to Thackeray's editorial, leaders of Shiv Sena in [[Delhi]] resigned, citing its outrageous conduct towards non-Marathis in Maharashtra and announced that they would form a separate party.<ref name="TOI_quit" /> Addressing a press conference, Shiv Sena's North India chief Jai Bhagwan Goyal said the decision to leave the party was taken because of the partial attitude of the party high command towards Maharashtrians. Goyal further said that Shiv Sena is no different from [[Khalistan]] and [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|Jammu and Kashmir militant groups]] which are trying to create a rift between people along regional lines. The main aim of these forces is to split our country. Like the [[Maharashtra Navnirman Sena]], the Shiv Sena too has demeaned North Indians and treated them inhumanely.<ref name="TOI_quit">{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Shiv-Senas-north-Indian-leaders-quit/articleshow/2902796.cms |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |title=Shiv Sena's North Indian leaders quit |date=27 March 2008 |access-date=4 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811045731/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-03-27/india/27771941_1_shiv-sena-jai-bhagwan-goyal-marathis |archive-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/28/stories/2008032851310300.htm |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |title=Delhi Shiv Sena chief resigns |location=Chennai, India |date=28 March 2008 |access-date=4 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402101931/http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/28/stories/2008032851310300.htm |archive-date=2 April 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>