Mumbai: Indian firebrand nationalist politician Bal Thackeray, who founded the right-wing Hindu party Shiv Sena, died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest, his doctor said.
Physician Jalil Parkar said that Thackeray had been placed on a ventilator earlier after his health deteriorated sharply, and that attempts to revive the ailing politician after he suffered a cardiac arrest failed.
Mumbai police have placed thousands of extra police on the streets to prevent unrest following the death of the politician.
Supporters sobbed into their handkerchiefs outside the house of Thackeray, who was known for his oratorical skills.
The funeral rites for the founder and president of the Shiv Sena or the Army of Shivaji - the Maratha king who battled against the Islamic Mughal empire - were due to be held on Sunday.
A massive procession was planned through the streets of Mumbai for Thackeray, nicknamed "The Tiger" because of his fearlessness and readiness to take on any opponent.
The Bharatiya Janata Party announced it was cancelling its attendance at a dinner to be held by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday night to show respect for Thackeray.
The Shiv Sena chief's condition had been described as "critical" on Thursday, when his son and party executive president Uddhav Thackeray made an appeal to all party activists to "remain calm".
Thackeray, 86, had been ill for over three weeks.
Thousands of supporters, including politicians and celebrtities have visited Thackeray's home in the past few days.
