Shiv Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday will be filing nomination papers for his electoral debut. The Shiv Sena held a massive rally in Worli today, in which Aaditya was accompanied by his parents, brother Tejas alongwith Sena leaders Sachin Ahir and Arvind Sawant.
Shiv Sena has put up huge hoardings of Aaditya Thackeray all over the constituency with greetings written on various languages apart from Marathi. 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. He recently addressed a rally in Worli for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, where he said that contesting elections is a historical point for him.
Aaditya before leaving matoshree this morning. | Photo Credit: Aaditya Thackeray Twitter
Aaditya is being projected as the party's pick for the post of deputy chief minister if the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance returns to power for a second consecutive term. The elections for the 288-member Legislative Assembly in Maharashtra will be held on October 21, along with Haryana in a single phase. Counting of votes in both states will take place on October 24.
Speaking to ANI, he said, "I am happy and excited. It feels great to witness the support of people". Thackeray's nomination rally also witnessed a show of support by Shiv Sena allies as flags of BJP and other NDA-ally Republican Party of India (A) were also seen during the nomination march.
Ahead of his nomination, Thackeray also tweeted a picture of him bowing before a portrait of his grandfather and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Last week, Shiv Sena had fielded the junior Thackeray from the Worli seat, which is currently held by party leader Sushil Shinde. Shiv Sena and BJP are jointly contesting Maharashtra Assembly polls, scheduled to be held October 21.
In August, Aaditya had launched a state-wide 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' to express gratitude to voters for their support in this year's Lok Sabha polls and also to seek their favour for the upcoming Assembly elections.
(Inputs from Pratip Acharya)
