Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, the first member of his family to take contest in an election, has made a spectacular debut in the Maharashtra politics by winning the 2019 Assembly election with a margin of over 67,000 against his immediate rival. The 29-year-old Thackeray, who is also likely to play a key role in the next BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government, has won from Worli constituency.

Yuva Sena leader Thackeray with 89,248 votes defeated his Nationalist Congress Party rival Suresh Mane, who has received 21,821 votes.

The constituency, located in south Mumbai, has undergone a sea change over the years from being a textile hub to having plush skyscrapers and modern commercial complexes.

Thackeray had said during the election campaigns that he wants to make the constituency a "model of development". In run up to the polls, he conducted several roadshows, foot marches and raised issues like cutting of trees in Aarey Colony and Mumbai's nightlife.

युवासेनाप्रमुख @AUThackeray यांनी वरळी विधानसभा मतदारसंघातून प्रचंड बहुमताने विजय मिळवला. यावेळी निवडणूक आयोगाकडून विजयाचे प्रमाणपत्र स्वीकारून त्यांनी जनतेचे आभार मानले. pic.twitter.com/lMJzGZN2l7

— ShivSena - शिवसेना (@ShivSena) October 24, 2019

Several of his posters have been put up in the constituency in different languages, indicating that the party wants to reach out to non-Marathi voters. Apart from banners in Marathi, posters in English read: "Hello Worli", while Gujarati banners great locals with words like "Kem Cho Worli". The Urdu posters have a green background with Aditya Thackeray's picture and a message written in that language.

Aaditya Thackeray joined politics in 2009 and since then has been actively working in the organisation, building a cadre of new young leaders by being in the background.

The constituency was represented by Sena leader Datta Nalawade from 1990 to 2004. But, in 2009, Sachin Ahir, then in the NCP, wrested the seat due to vote split by the MNS.

First Published:Oct 24, 2019 9:35 AM IST