Balasaheb Thackeray was a celebrity par excellence. He took gutsy positions to provoke the elite who those times no one could dare to. He attacked the powerful and privileged. He ridiculed the government and ministers. True to his Cartoonist background, the never left anyone who did wrong how ever mighty he or she be. Often creating laughter and still making the issue serious enough to make normal individual understands. 
Bala sahebwas adored by the masses. First Generation businessman like Dhirubhai Ambani  to Pakistani Cricketers like to Javed Mianda. Being in Mumbai, he was close with all stars who are nationalistic including his dear friend Late Dilip Kumar .  Lal Krishna Advani to Sharad Pawar are all in awe of him,

He was implsive and acted according to his heart to solve the problem in hand. Never planned and derisked his life but jumped in to fire always. His logic and decision making is often simple based on facts of the day.  These are the reasons for his mass appeal which is partly inexplicable to elite and partly understandable in the context of the problem in hand

The Shiv Sena was formed in 1966 almost six years after the state of Maharashtra was formed. It was a time of political turmoil in the country. Indira Gandhi had just taken over as prime minster after Shastri’s death. She was finding her feet in uncertain political sands but reflected in his statement “Jai Hind Jai Maharashtra” .  Unemployment, particularly in the middle class, was rising as there was little investment. The generation born after independence had come of age and was looking for jobs as well as a socio-political identity. It was in this political vacuum, that young Bal Thackeray began his campaign and addressed the inequalities in the society .