AIMIM Chief Owaisi takes a dig at Aaditya Thackeray being in poll fray

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) supremo Asaduddin Owaisi took a subtle dig at Shiv Sena (SS) leader Aaditya Thackeray’s decision to contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Initially, he refused to wade into the call taken by the SS top brass to field a person belonging to the Thackeray clan in electoral politics for the first-ever time. Owaisi also remarked that he had a right to contest. However, he concluded his commentary on the issue, by observing that Thackeray’s entry was a sign of the ‘remote control’ not working.  

Read: Owaisi Fires Veiled Attack At Pak's 'no Non-Muslim' PM-President Bid

He said, “How can I speak on this? I am not privy to their internal discussions. And I don’t have the react to their internal matters. If any political party decided to contest, then good luck because this is a democracy."

On being prodded further to comment on Thackeray's entry in electoral politics, Owaisi added, "That is for them to say why are they contesting now. I cannot sit here and say anything. Everyone has the right to contest, he should contest. So, the remote control is not working anymore then.” 

Read: Amit Malviya Tells Owaisi To Shift Focus From Modern-day Godse Remark

'Remote control' phenomenon

His reference was to SS founder and Aaditya's grandfather Balasaheb Thackeray who often boasted publicly that he ran the SS-BJP coalition government by ‘remote control’, 1995 onwards. This implied that he enjoyed de facto power without being elected or holding an official position. On Thursday, Aaditya Thackeray filed his nomination from the Worli seat in Mumbai. His mother Rashmi and father Uddhav Thackeray accompanied him on the occasion. He declared Rs.11.38 crore worth movable assets and Rs.4.67 crore worth immovable assets.

Read: Aaditya Thackeray Addresses Rally In Worli Ahead Of Maharashtra Polls

Read: Aaditya Thackeray: 'Development Should Not Be At Cost Of Citizens'