Aaditya Thackeray, the veritable 'crown prince' of the Shiv Sena filed his nomination for the prestigious Worli Assembly seat in south-central Mumbai on Thursday for the October 21 Maharashtra Assembly elections. He filed his nomination from the Election Office of the BMC Engineering Hub. Aaditya was accompanied by his father and party chief Uddhav Thackeray, along with most of the top party leaders.
Ahead of filing the nomination, Shiv Sena held a massive roadshow in Mumbai. Aaditya prayed before a portrait of his grandfather and Sena founder-patriarch the late Bal Thackeray at his family home 'Matoshri' in Bandra, before filing his nomination papers.
In between, he also got a phone call of best wishes from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and a member of Sena's ruling ally the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Earlier on Monday, while speaking at a rally in Mumbai, Aaditya Thackeray had confirmed that he will contest upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections.
29-year-old Aaditya will be the first from Thackeray family to contest open elections. Neither Bal Thackeray himself or Uddhav and Raj Thackeray contested in the election.
Aaditya, who is the President of Shiv Sena's youth wing, Yuva Sena, was appointed as a 'leader' of the parent party a few years ago and recently conducted a gruelling 'Maha Janaashirwad Yatra' in the state.
Raj Thackeray had announced in 2014 that he will contest elections but changed his decision later on.
Although there hasn't been any official announcement from Shiv Sena about constituency Aaditya Thackeray fight elections from, it is widely being believed that he will contest from Worli.
Worli is considered to be a secure seat for Shiv Sena.
There were strong indicators that Shiv Sena will field Aaditya Thackeray in upcoming Maharashtra elections. It is also being believed that Shiv Sena will try to project him as a chief ministerial candidate.
Maharashtra elections are due to be held on October 21. Counting of votes will take place on October 24.
Also Read | How a 19-year-old conman duped security at Aaditya Thackeray's house - Thrice
Also Read | Shiv Sainiks in Worli want Aaditya Thackeray to contest Maharashtra elections
Aaditya Thackeray files nomination from Worli