Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray (29) on Monday announced his candidature for the Assembly elections from Worli constituency, during the party’s Vijay Sankalp Melava in Worli, becoming the first person in his family to contest an election.
During the event, Sena leader Sanjay Raut made veiled references to Mr. Thackeray leading the State from Mantralaya, referring to the chief ministership the Shiv Sena is vying for.
Soon after the Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Thackeray started touring the State through his Jan Aashirwad Yatra and reached out to the youth through Aaditya Samwad. The tour led to speculation of the Sena projecting him as a potential chief minister. On Saturday, party chief Uddhav Thackeray said he had promised his father, Sena founder Bal Thackeray, that a Sainik will become the Maharashtra chief minister once again. The Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party officially announced their alliance on Monday.
“I have accompanied my grandfather and father since childhood everywhere during their work. People have asked me several times why I joined politics and I would say, that is all I can do. We do 80% samajkaran [social service] and 20% rajkaran [politics]. In politics, one decision can improve crores of lives. The Shiv Sena has worked extensively across Maharashtra, be it during droughts or floods. While working, I used to think to myself, ‘How can I serve Maharashtra on a larger scale and in the Shiv Sena style?’ Therefore, I have taken the party chief’s permission, and with permission from all of you, I would like to humbly contest these elections,” Mr. Thackeray said during his speech, leading to loud cheers and sloganeering from the assembled Shiv Sainiks.
“I am taking a big leap but if I fall, I know you all are there to hold me. We will work for the development of Worli as well as all of Maharashtra. I have taken this decision for the people. This is the time to create a debt-free, unemployment-free, pollution-free, prosperous Maharashtra... You [Sainiks] should work for every Shiv Sena candidate. A vote for them is a vote for me,” Mr. Thackeray said. He was accompanied by his mother, brother and senior Sena leaders, including ex-chief minister Manohar Joshi.
Safe seat
Worli is considered one of the safest constituencies for the Shiv Sena. With former Nationalist Congress Party leader Sachin Ahir on their side, the Sena has picked this seat for Mr. Thackeray, who is likely to file his nomination on October 3.
Following Mr. Thackeray’s speech, Mr. Raut said, “This is a historic moment. Even if India’s Chandrayaan could not reach the moon, this Suryayaan [Aaditya] will land safely on Mantralaya’s sixth floor. From today, Maharashtra politics will once again be centred around Matoshree. While making history, some rules need to be set aside,” Mr. Raut said, referring to the CM’s office on the sixth floor of the State secretariat.
The Congress-NCP alliance has not yet named its candidate for this constituency.
