Aditya Thackeray is the president of Sena's youth wing.
Aditya Thackeray, the 23-year-old president of Shiv Sena's youth wing Yuva Sena, has a plan for Mumbai. He wants the city to have 24-hour cafes, restaurants and convenience stores for "some chilling time post work."
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, he said, "This proposal includes all eateries right from a vada-pav stall to a five star restaurant. It is not only about the night life. It is to make Mumbai safer at night and something for the youth to love their own city."
The young college graduate's proposal has been cleared by the city's municipal corporation, which is run by the Sena, headed by Mr Thackeray's father, Uddhav.
Currently, only hotels with at least four stars are allowed to have 24-hour cafes and restaurants. Now, the state government will consider the proposal, which does not ask for extended hours for pubs or nightclubs, which shut at 1 am.
Speaking in favour of the Young Turk's idea, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, "It's a good proposal. It will increase revenue for the state and create more employment opportunities. More people out on the streets will mean enhanced safety"
But there is no word yet from Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan who will take the final decision. Among the factors that the state government will consider is whether residential areas will oppose all-night business establishments, and the impact of longer hours on the city's under-staffed police.
But what do the eateries think about the idea?
Kaustubh Tambe, proprietor of a 74-year-old eatery that offers simple Maharashtrian food to mostly office crowd, is circumspect. "To keep it open for even two or three more hours, we need hundred to two hundred customers every hour. Then only it will be feasible"
Whether the Mumbaikars cheer or reject the decision is something only time will tell.