Aditya Thackeray : Sena grandson makes his debut

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray may have criticised the Congress for encouraging dynastic politics, but his grandson Aditya made a subtle official entry into the political arena.

Aditya will lead the newly formed youth organisation Yuva Sena. Sena functionaries said the move was designed to counter Raj Thackeray, who is popular among the youth.

In many ways, Aditya’s entry was unspoken but the signals were clear. This was the first time he was seen seated next to his grandfather at the Sena’s annual rally in Shivaji Park.

In a symbolic gesture, Aditya kneeled down before his grandfather and accepted a sword from him. The sword was later unsheathed for the benefit of the crowd and the press.

Aditya’s entry has been hastened because of a realisation in Matoshree that Uddhav has not been effective in combating his cousin Raj, whose Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party has been steadily eating into Sena votes.

“ Aditya’s entry will ensure that even after Bala saheb , the party’s reigns will remain in the hands of Uddhav and his family,” a Sena leader said.

Thackeray, however, denied he was promoting ‘dynastic politics’. “ I didn’t bring my son ( Uddhav) into politics. The party had made the decision.

I am against dynastic politics and will not allow it in the Sena,” he said.

Thackeray also lambasted the Congress, calling it a party of eunuchs for having accepted Sonia Gandhi, an Italian, as chief. He also lambasted Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah saying they were not fit to lead.

The Sena chief also spoke on Rohington Mistry’s book Such a long Journey . “ The ban was right as the book was objectionable. It contained passages that were vulgar,” he said.