Best known as the leader (Pramukh) of a conservative, Indian Maharashtra state political party called the Shiv Sena, this politician also edited Saamana, his party's Marathi news publication. He was appointed Chief of the Shiv Sena in 2004; two years later, a disagreement with his cousin Raj Thackeray resulted in the formation (by his cousin) of an opposing political party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.