Maha polls: Will Aditya prove a game-changer for Shiv Sena?
For the last few months, Aditya has been running from pillar to post to ensure party's win in the upcoming Assembly polls. Aditya along with his cadre is addressing number of meetings to connect with the people in better ways.
Aditya who is often considered as heir of Thackeray's legacy, is emerging as the next leader in the party after his father. He now ranks second on the list of 36 star campaigners of the party for the Assembly election.
Aditya's meteoric rise
Aditya's rise in the party has been meteoric - a cause of envy for the kin of other political bigwigs in the State. He first emerged in the public domain at the age of 17, when he raised social issues in three languages -English, Hindi and Marathi.
Aditya was anointed as Yuva Sena president in 2010
But he became a public face after three years, when he openly supported Sena activists in burning Rohinton Mistry's book. His agitation forced the Mumbai University to withdraw the book from its curriculum.
Following this, in 2010, Aditya was anointed as president of Yuva Sena by his grandfather at party's Dasara rally.
Aditya gave Shiv Sena a new look
Aditya has consciously pushed the party away from violence to have an image makeover. He has strictly issued guidelines for Sena cadre not to undertake any violent agitations.
He is not only acting as a political advisor of his father but also effectively controls the party and devises its strategies. Recently, he acted as mediator in seat-sharing talks with BJP.
Aditya put Sena on the digital map
Not only he offers tech tips to his father Uddhav in handling a new gadgets but has also taken the party beyond 'shakhas' to digital networks. He has introduced the party on various social medias like watsapp, twitter, facebook to connect with youths in better ways.
Aditya's mission 150 responsible for BJP-Sena divorce?
Shiv Sena's 'Mission 150' almost on the lines of BJP's ‘Mission 272' before the Lok Sabha elections, is an initiative of Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray.
As per the mission, Aditya has activated the youth, students and other affiliated wings of the party to do the ground work for Assembly elections. Through this mission, Aditya aimed to win 151 seats so that Shiv Sena emerges out as the single largest party.
Following the split with the Sena, the BJP's Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Eknath Khadse said that Aaditya's "childish" Mission 150 was responsible for the break-up.