‘Ram Mandir Not a Poll Issue’: Aaditya Thackeray on Maha Elections

The junior Thackeray also spoke about the Shiv Sena’s manifesto ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

From Rs 10 thalis to farmers’ distress and Ram Mandir, Aaditya Thackeray, the Shiv Sena candidate from Worli, Mumbai, talks to The Quint about his party’s manifesto for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Aaditya Thackeray)

Video Editor: Varun Sharma

With Maharashtra Assembly Elections just around the corner, The Quint talked to Yuva Sena President Aaditya Thackeray, who is contesting from Worli, Mumbai, as he attended a campaign rally.

‘Ram Mandir Not Election Issue’

The Shiv Sena has time and again raised the issue of the Ayodhya land dispute. But Ram Mandir is not an election issue anymore for the Sena, Aaditya told The Quint.

“For BJP and Sena, it has not been an election issue, but it is something which is close to our heart,” he said.

Shiv Sena’s Manifesto

Talking about the the manifesto released by the Sena, Aaditya explained the math behind the Rs 10 thali, which is one of the promises made by the party.

“If you can get a McDonald’s happy meal in Rs 20, then why can a poor man not eat a thali worth Rs 10?” He explained that all the promises made by the party have been included in the manifesto after making financial assessments for one year going up to 10 years, and figuring out the operational models for implementation.

“We have seen to it. And the most important thing is that despite being a centralised kitchen, the ones getting employed there will be our women.”

When asked about the farmer loan waiver, and whether it will burn a hole in the government's pocket, the junior Thackeray said that the issue is something very basic and something the Congress-NCP coalition government should have tackled in their 15-year rule. He said that they were unable to deal with these issues and now the current Maharashtra government is working on them.