Shiv Sena's Aaditya Thackeray will contest 2019 Maharashtra elections

In a major political twist on Saturday, Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray is confirmed to contest in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections in October 2019, as per sources. Sources report that the Shiv Sena supremo's son will be contesting from Mumbai's Worli constituency. The announcement was made by Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab to the party cadres, late on Friday. This would be Thackeray's first Assembly elections.

Sena demands Aaditya for CM

Aaditya Thackrey has been touted as a Chief Ministerial candidate by many Sena leaders. Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant iterated the party's stance and said that Aaditya Thackeray is the rising sun and that Maharashtra needs him. Previously, Manohar Joshi too demanded to make Aaditya Thackeray as CM candidate citing that he possessed all the qualities to lead the state. Sena's Rajya Sabha MO and Saamna editor Sanjay Raut too had said that Maharashtra needs a young CM like Aaditya Thackeray and we believe that the people of Maharashtra will accept Aaditya as their CM. 

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Fadnavis-Uddhav discuss CM post

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that the issue of who will be the next Maharashtra CM has been discussed and decided with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. He made this statement while attending Shiv Sena foundation day celebrations in Mumbai. "Don't focus on the issue that who will become CM. Uddhav and I have decided a few things. We will tell you at the right time," he said to reporters at the event. Fadnavis was present as the Chief Guest at the event where he was personally invited by Uddhav Thackrey, as per sources. Shiv Sena claims that as per seat-sharing deal, Chief Minister's post will be shared among the candidates of both the parties for 2.5 years each. 

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Sena ropes in Prashant Kishor

Earlier in June, Uddhav Thackrey had hired Janata Dal (United) leader and poll strategist Prashant Kishor to design Shiv Sena's poll campaign. As per inputs, Prashant Kishor has already begun the campaign strategy for Shiv Sena for the assembly elections. While the Uddhav Thackeray joined hands with BJP-led NDA during the recently-concluded Lok Sabha polls, Prashant Kishor aims to reestablish Shiv Sena as the leading NDA ally.  The party looking forward to win more seats than BJP during the state assembly elections. 

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Maharashtra Assembly polls

Maharashtra which has 288 Assembly seats will go to polls in October 2019. Currently, the BJP holds 122 seats, while the Shiv Sena holds 63 seats. The Opposition held by UPA has 42 seats. Earlier in May, the BJP-Shiv Sena allaince won 41 seats while the UPA was reduced to merely 5 seats. 

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