Aaditya Thackeray may be elected Sena secretary

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, January 22

Aaditya Thackeray, grandson of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, may take over as the party’s secretary on Tuesday when its national executive meeting is held.

According to Shiv Sena sources there is a demand among younger activists that Aaditya be elevated right away. He currently heads Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the party.

The Shiv Sena already has eight secretaries.

Uddhav Thackeray is scheduled to be re-elected as president of the Shiv Sena, party officials said. The party will also announce a new set of office-bearers, according to sources.

Sanjay Raut, Member of the Rajya Sabha and Editor of party mouthpiece Saamna, had earlier told reporters that Aaditya Thackeray is popular among the youth and is attracting a lot of fresh faces to the Shiv Sena.

Aaditya, who is comfortable in both English and Marathi, is a good public speaker and is expected to campaign aggressively for the Shiv Sena in next year’s Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

Aaditya hit the headlines recently when he suggested that hotels and restaurants be kept open all night so that Mumbaiites could get a nightlife. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation controlled by the Shiv Sena is backing the idea, the ruling BJP at the state-level is opposed to the move.