Uddhav to take call on son Aaditya's poll plunge, says Raut

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will take a call on whether or not his son and the saffron outfit's youth face Aaditya will contest the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra, party leader Sanjay Raut said Wednesday.

Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP and spokesman, was responding to speculation that Aaditya Thackeray, chief of the Yuva Sena, the party's youth wing, may enter the poll fray. Assembly polls in Maharashtra are scheduled later this year.

The 28-year-old Thackeray scion is playing an active role in the Sena's preparations for the assembly polls to ensure the party, founded by his grandfather Bal Thackeray, wins the maximum number of seats, he said.

No member of the Thackeray family has ever fought an election in the 53-year-old history of the party.

"Aaditya is involved in the Sena's preparations for the assembly elections to ensure maximum candidates of the party win.

"He himself has clarified that any decision regarding his entry in the poll arena will be taken by party president Uddhav Thackeray," Raut told a Marathi news channel.

To a query on speculation about Aaditya Thackeray becoming Deputy Chief Minister in the event of the BJP-Sena combine retaining power, Raut said, "A Thackeray doesn't take a deputy's post. A family member is always the chief. The family has prestige in state and national politics."
"When the alliance was formalised, discussions happened only between Uddhav Thackeray and Amit Shah. So, any comment regarding chief minister's post will be made by either of them."