The Thackerays went into a huddle at Matoshree on Thursday, ahead of Shiv Sena CEO Uddhav Thackeray's angioplasty at Lilavati hospital, Bandra, on Friday.

Sena chief Bal Thackeray summoned his nephew, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray to Matoshree late on Thursday evening. Raj spent over an hour with the senior Thackeray, Uddhav and close relatives, discussing details of Uddhav's medical procedure.

Six prominent doctors led by Dr Samuel Mathew Kalarickal from Lilavati will conduct the angioplasty, according to family sources. Dr Kalarickal had done an angioplasty on the senior Thackeray in 2009.

Raj may accompany his cousin to hospital on Friday morning. Relatives, including Uddhav's wife Rashmi, Raj's wife Sharmila and mother Kunda, and maternal un-cle Chandrakant Vaidya, among others, will be present, it is learned.

Doctors at Lilavati had recommended bypass surgery, but Uddhav was said to be apprehensive about it. While preparations have been made for an angioplasty, a team of doctors will stand by if there is a need for a bypass. It is learned that Dr S Bhattacharya and Dr O Jaiswal will be on standby at the hospital on Friday morning.

Sena leader Manohar Joshi and Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, MP, called on Uddhav to inquire about his health.

Following Balasaheb's instructions, Raj was at Uddhav's bedside when he was admitted to Lilavati early this week.

Three blockages were detected in the angiography conducted on Uddhav on Monday.

Later, Raj drove Uddhav back home in his silver Mercedes. The Thackeray cousins were given a traditional Maharashtrian welcome when they reached Matoshree late Monday evening.

Raj refused to speak on his reunion with Uddhav on Wednesday. "Uddhav's coronary ailment and my visit to Matoshree are not subjects to be discussed publicly. This is our personal matter,'' the MNS chief said in Alibaug. He suggested that the media keep away from the topic, and leave the Thackerays alone.

Raj Thackeray was talking to media-persons at Alibaug after presiding over the concluding session of a 3-day MNS workshop for corporators and zilla parishad members.

His plain-speak is an indication that the MNS is not keen on drawing political mileage out of the Uddhav-Raj meeting, party watchers said.

* Author: Ambarish Mishra
* News story courtesy TNN
* Image courtesy Reuters