Bal Thackeray

Lok Sabha elections

legislative assembly 2019

Aaditya being greeted by his cousin Varun Sardesai (inset)

Unlike his grandfather and father, who preferred to retain the ‘remote control’, the Yuva Sena chief is not averse to entering the Maharashtra legislature.The colossal mandate for the NDA in the country, and the Sena-BJP combine in Maharashtra, for thehas convinced those close to 28-year-old Aaditya – the Yuva Sena chief -- that now is the time for him to enter the state legislature.Yesterday, Aaditya’s cousin and Yuva Sena office-bearer Varun Sardesai’s Insta post, which went viral in no time, indicated as much. “This is the time, this is the opportunity. Mission. Maharashtra is waiting --Aaditya Thackeray,” the post read.Mumbai Mirror has learnt that Aaditya could contest from the Sena strongholds of Worli or Sewri Assembly segments. Shiv Sena secretary, Milind Narvekar, who is also personal assistant to party chief Uddhav Thackeray, gave enough and more hints of Aaditya entering the poll fray in October. “We the senior members of the party have suggested to him that he must contest the upcoming Assembly elections. It will benefit the party and give the much-needed youth leadership to the state. We want him to contest but then, he has to decide,” Narvekar told Mirror.When asked whether Worli or Sewri Assembly segments were finalised for Aaditya to contest, Narvekar did not confirm or deny, but said those will be “ideal” seats to seek mandate from. Currently, Sena’s Sunil Shinde is the MLA from Worli, while Sewri is represented by the party’s Ajay Chaudhary.On Saturday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the NDA allies at the Central Hall of the Parliament, Aaditya was seated next to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Earlier, Uddhav was on the dais to endorse, on behalf of the Sena, Akali Dal leader Prakash Singh’s Badal’s proposal to declare Modi as the leader of the NDA. “The fact that it was Aaditya who was made to sit next to the CM was enough indication that he is being groomed for a much bigger role,” the Sena sources said.Another Sena functionary hinted that Aaditya could be the Sena candidate when it is the party’s turn to share the CM’s post with the BJP, if the Assembly elections are also favourable for the alliance. “Aaditya contesting the elections will boost the morale of the cadre. As the agreement with the BJP includes sharing the CM’s post, he could be the party’s nominee,” a Sena functionary said.Sena leaders said the Mahim Assembly seat, which houses the Sena Bhavan, was also considered but the party took the MNS factor into account. “The Sena wants to give Aaditya a norisk seat,” a party functionary said, adding that MNS chief Raj Thackeray resides in the Mahim segment.While Aaditya didn’t comment on the possibility of him contesting the Assembly elections, he has hinted on number of occasions that he could be the first Thackeray to seek a mandate.