Making it the first time for a Thackeray family member to contest elections, Aditya Thackeray filed his nomination papers for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections on Thursday.
Before filing his nomination papers, Aaditya prayed before a portrait of his grandfather and Sena founder-patriarch the late Bal Thackeray at his family home ‘Matoshri’ in Bandra.
Aaditya was accompanied by a huge crowd in a procession from his home to Worli as he made way to create history.
At the election office, the 29-year-old was greeted by his proud and happy parents Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and mom Rashmi, and the excited younger sibling Tejas.
On his way to the collector’s office, Aaditya Thackeray said Maharashtra will soon have a Shiv Sena chief minister.
Aaditya has declared movable assets worth ₹11.38 crore and immovable assets worth ₹4.67 crore, during his nomination.Thackeray has declared movable assets worth ₹11.38 crore, including cash, bank deposits, investment in bonds, jewellery and others assets, apart from a BMW car valued at ₹6.5 lakh.
Thackeray has declared his occupation as ‘business’ and his total income as per last income tax return is ₹26.3 lakh. He has listed interest, rent, share of profit from firm, dividend as his sources of income.
According to party sources, the young leader is known to be a voracious reader, is a good orator and has a connect with the grassroot Sainiks.
Aaditya, who is the President of Shiv Sena’s youth wing, YuvaSena, was appointed as a ‘leader’ of the parent party a few years ago and recently conducted a gruelling ‘MahaJanaashirwad Yatra’ in the state.
In the 2014 Maharashtra assembly elections, Shiv Sena won 63 out of the total 288 seats, second only to BJP’s 122, with both parties then contesting separately.