Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under attack from within his own party, has found an ally in Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

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Speaking to Zee News on Friday, Thackeray described Vajpayee as the "soul of BJP."

Vajpayee has been under attack ever since he listed Gujarat riots of 2002 as one of the reasons for the party's defeat in the last Lok Sabha election.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its sister organisation have castigated the former prime minister for his comments. Some even indicated that it was time he quit politics.

Thackeray, who was, at best of times, suspicious of Vajpayee's soft approach towards minorities and Pakistan, has suddenly emerged as a supporter of the former prime minister.

He told Zee News that the recent attacks on Vajpayee were orchestrated by a handful of people who see him as a hurdle in their growth within the BJP.

"If such differences of opinion exist in my party, I would stop the party from contesting elections. I cannot tolerate such things in my party," Thackeray said.