Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray has indicated that he was open to contest elections.
Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray has indicated that he was open to contest elections.
Incidentally, no member of the Thackeray family has run for public office so far. Speaking to DNA on Monday during his tour of drought-affected tribal areas in Thane district where the Yuva Sena has provided water tankers, Aaditya said he “had not imposed such restrictions (about not contesting the elections) on himself.”
“If the people want that and if I feel so, I am willing to contest (polls),” said Aaditya, however pointing out that he was only 21years. “We live in an age of electoral politics. (However) Even if I can do developmental work without fighting (elections), it will also be good,” he added.
“We are against corruption,” said Aaditya, a first-year student of law who has graduated in the Arts stream, adding that the Lokpal needed to have counter checks.
“If it becomes an all-powerful body, it will be a problem,” said the Sena scion, who met social activist Anna Hazare during his fast at the Ramlila grounds in New Delhi last year to express solidarity with him.
Aaditya’s grandfather and Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray had refused to meet Hazare during his recent visit to Mumbai, saying that there were corruption allegations against his team members.
“Regardless of whether there is a Lokpal or not, the people have arisen and the 2014 polls will see a major political change in Maharashtra,” said Aaditya.
On toning down of Sena’s opposition to Valentine’s Day, Aaditya said eve-teasing used to take place on the occasion and that is why Sena was opposing it. But because it did not occur now, things had smoothened out, he added.
He said positive identity politics based around development would be the way forward and pointed out that the saffron alliance’s successful campaign for the BMC polls was centred on it.
He said he was working on micro issues at the civic level and was trying to redress complaints about poor civic amenities. He was also planning a ‘youth council’ comprising entrepreneurs, students and professionals to advise the mayor on policy issues apart from rainwater harvesting in drought affected areas and alleviation of malnutrition in tribal pockets.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}