Past two and a half years had been the toughest time for the Thackeray family after the rebellion within the party and Uddhav had to resign as Chief Minister in June 2022. Aaditya Thackeray showed great resilience in the assembly as well as on the streets of Mumbai during this period and effectively attacked and exposed the state government, which he calls an ‘illegal government’. Now that when the elections are less than a month away, whether he will be able to show the toughness necessary to save his party is a big question.
Aaditya not just carries the legacy of his forefathers but also speaks of changing the face of the politics. He implemented some impressive ideas as a minister under his father. He cares for the environment, for animals, for health of people. This concern was seen in his actions like his insistence on open gyms at Marine Drive or the huge expenditure incurred on bringing penguins to the zoo in Mumbai. However, he received more criticism than praises for such actions.
His political journey reflects a blend of youthful energy and a commitment to his party’s legacy. His focus on environmental issues and sustainable development continues to shape his political agenda. However, on the other said that he hardly seems to have any connect with the common people, even the voters of his party, and survives only on the image of his forefathers and swanky ideas about environment which hardly resonate with the traditional voters of his party.
Aaditya, 34, completed his schooling at Bombay Scottish School at Mahim and later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from St. Xavier’s College. He also holds a law degree from KC Law College, Mumbai. He also has keen interest in literature and poetry. He has published a book of poems titled “My Thoughts in White and Black” and a music album “Ummeed”.
He had been involved in party affairs even before 2010 when he was appointed as the President of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the party. In 2019, he became the first member of his family to contest and win an election. As an MLA from the Worli constituency, he symbolized the generational shift in the party’s leadership.
Under his father Aaditya held several key ministerial positions in Maharashtra government and served as the Cabinet Minister for Tourism and Environment from 2019 to 2022. While much of that period was lost in COVID, it also saw his name being linked to several cases including deaths of actor Sushantisingh Rajput and Disha Salian. He and his father are also blamed for delay in crucial infrastructure project like the Mumbai Underground Metro line. His image of an ‘anti-development’ politician is a biggest challenge for him to overcome.
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