Mumbai:
Life seems to have come a full circle for Bal Thackeray who christened his grandson, Aditya Thackeray, to active politics on Sunday. The Shiv Sena Chief, who always accused Congress of promoting dynastic politics, did just the same by presenting a sword to Aditya and welcoming the generation next of the Thackeray family.
21-year-old Aditya will now head the youth wing of the Shiv Sena.
"Yuva Sena is an umbrella organisation for the youth," said Aditya Thackeray, now the head of Yuva Sena.
For Aditya, even before the political baptism came, he showed a natural flair for Shiv Sena antics in politics by ensuring removal of Rohiton Mistry's novel 'Such a Long Journey' from the syllabus of the Mumbai University. He claimed that Mistry's book insulted the Marathi Manoos and the Shiv Sena.
Though, it was meant to be Aditya's day and he tried his best to charm everyone around, grandfather Bal Thackeray stole the show. He appeared like an ageing tiger, of course in better health now, and tore through the Congress leadership in Maharashtra and in the Centre.
Being a man who has always been critical of Congress' dynastic politics, he did quite a good job at defending his grandson's move in family politics.
"Did I ask Aditya to join the party? He has joined us by his own choice. It can't be therefore said that I have promoted dynasty in my party," said Balasaheb Thackeray.
Aditya hasn't begun his political career on a high note. Now the onus is on him to create an identity that can match his grand entry.