Amid reports suggesting that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's son, Aaditya Thackeray, is likely to contest Maharashtra assembly elections, now reports have surfaced saying that the Shiv Sena is going to pitch Aditya as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the upcoming assembly elections.
According to NDTV, Shiv Sena spokesperson and Rajya Sabha lawmaker Sanjay Raut dropped broad hints during an interview to a Marathi news channel. Claiming that Thackeray Junior is busy with the preparations for the assembly elections, he said, "A Thackeray doesn't take a deputy's post. A family member is always the chief. The family has prestige in state and national politics." The Shiv Sena spokesperson stated that the people in Maharashtra want a youngster to lead them.
If Raut's comments are proven true, then it will be for the first time in 53 years of Shiv Sena's existence, that a Thackeray family member will contest elections. Raut's comments on Aditya Thackeray have also opened up a new debate. In the meanwhile, Aaditya refused to respond to the questions regarding speculations of his plunge in electoral politics and being the in the race for the post of chief minister or deputy chief minister post, saying he would respond at appropriate time. "More than my personal political career, issues concerning students and farmers are more important. I would again meet the CM when the monsoon session begins next week," he said.