Hailing Sushma Swaraj, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader would be a suitable Prime Ministerial candidate from the party. In an interview given to his party's mouthpiece 'Saamna', Thackeray reportedly said: "Sushma Swaraj is a smart, brilliant choice for PM candidate. She is hard working, she will be the right choice for PM candidate.

His statement came days after the leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha met him at his residence in suburban Bandra, 'Matoshree'.

"I met Balasaheb Thackeray and his son Uddhav as both were unwell recently. It was a mere courtesy call," Swaraj had said.

Bal Thackeray also hit out at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying the coalition lacked leadership. "Previously, the NDA had a strong leadership in Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Today, the NDA lacks leadership," he said.