MUMBAI: Uddhav Thackeray’s ploy to groom his son Aditya as the future leader of the Shiv Sena doesn’t seem to be taking off, with the 26-year-old failing to match the charisma of his grandfather, Bal Thackeray. Murmurs in the Sena are that Aditya will not live up to the expectations of the cadre and leaders, and won’t be able to lead the party at all.
This was heightened ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls a fortnight ago, Aditya’s leadership qualities were tested when his and Uddhav’s supporters were at loggerheads in the party’s stronghold Wadala. Some office bearers of the Aditya-led Yuva Sena were given tickets, which was opposed by Sena office bearers. This came at a time when the Sena has decided to severe ties with its ally BJP and go solo in the elections. The strife was resolved, but the incident threw up the issue of succession within the Sena ranks.
Aditya’s political career does not have any great achievements. He is blamed for his insistence of contesting 150 seats in the 2014 Assembly polls, which led to the breaking up of Sena-BJP ties.
“Had they not insisted on 150 and settled for lesser seats, they could have saved the alliance and probably have gained more seats than us and had their own leader as CM,” said BJP leader Vinod Tawde, against whom Aditya recently took out a rally.
The rally was an attempt to groom him. Uddhav and Raj were launched into politics in a similar fashion 25 years ago. But Aditya has an advantage. Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray had entrusted him with the responsibility of the Yuva Sena. This helped Aditya gain authority in the party, but that has changed.
“Aditya’s friend circle is wide. He has friends in Bollywood and in political parties. While he was studying, he had very few friends, but he developed himself very well,” said one of his friends.
But Shiv Sena workers are unhappy with him. “Aditya is unlike a typical Shiv Sainik,” grumbled a senior Shiv Sena member. “He is too western in his ideas and orientation. That can be problematic in the future.”
Voices against Aditya are hushed now, but if the Sena fares badly in the BMC elections, they will turn louder.