Aaditya Files Nomination, Becomes 1st Thackeray to Contest Polls

Ever since the Shiv Sena was founded in 1966, no member of the family had contested any election.

With this, Aaditya has become the first member of the Thackeray clan ever to contest an election.

(Photo: PTI)

Ending days of speculation, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s elder son Aaditya, on Thursday, 3 October, filed his nomination for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. He will be contesting from the Worli constituency in Mumbai.

With this, Aaditya has become the first member of the Thackeray clan to ever contest an election.

He was accompanied by father Uddhav Thackeray, mother Rashmi and sitting MLA Sunil Shinde at the election commission office. Speaking to reporters, the senior Thackeray said that “times have changed” and Aaditya contesting polls was a “welcome move.”

At a Shiv Sena event in Worli on Monday, senior party leader Sanjay Raut said, "No Thackeray has ever contested elections. But, at times, to make history, you have to break away from the rules."

First Member of Thackeray Clan to Contest

Ever since the Shiv Sena was founded by late Bal Thackeray in 1966, no member of the family had contested any election or held any constitutional post.

Uddhav's cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had announced his intention to contest the 2014 state assembly elections. However, he had later changed his mind.

If Aaditya wins the election, he will be the first member of the family to represent the people. The Shiv Sena has been projecting him as the chief ministerial face if the NDA returns to power after the next month’s assembly polls.  

‘Shiv Sainik’ As CM of Maharashtra: Uddhav’s Promise

Uddhav Thackeray had on Saturday recalled the “promise” he had made to his late father Bal Thackeray to install a 'Shiv Sainik' (party worker) as the chief minister of Maharashtra.

His statement had come against the backdrop of the BJP top brass repeatedly stressing that incumbent Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would helm the state once again.

In July, Aaditya had launched a state-wide 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' to thank the electorate for their support in the last Lok Sabha polls and to seek their backing for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Candidature of Sena Leaders

Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday also issued A-B form to other Sena leaders, a mandatory document to confirm the candidature of a person representing the party.

The names include, Minister of State for Water Resources Vijay Shivtare (Saswad in Pune district) and MoS Animal Husbandry Arjun Khotkar (Jalna, in Jalna district), the Sena chief’s close aide said.  

“Most of the sitting MLAs of the party will contest the election this time as well. There are some senior Sena leaders, who were defeated in the 2014 assembly election. It is yet to be decided on their future as whether they will continue to be the member of Maharashtra Legislative Council or not,” he said.

In the 2014 elections, the BJP and the Sena had contested separately over a dispute over sharing of seats. The BJP won maximum 122 out of 260 seats it had contested while the Sena bagged 63 out of 282 seats.

Both the parties later joined hands to form a BJP-led government.

(With inputs from PTI)