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Raj Thackeray

Swararaj Shrikant Thackeray commonly known as Raj Thackeray is an Indian politician and the founder and chief of right wing Marathi centric Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (Maharashtra Reformation Army). He is the nephew of Shiv Sena Founder Bal Thackeray and cousin of Uddhav Thackeray, current leader and President of Shiv Sena. According to a recent report published by Google, Raj Thackeray was the most popular politician in Maharashtra during the 2014 general elections in Maharashtra but after a humiliating performance of his party in the 2014 elections, the upcoming 2017 assembly election is a watershed moment for him and his party. Raj Thackeray is known to have a similar style and personality that of his uncle Bal Thackeray and many see him as the leader of the Marathi Manoos (Marathi people)Born on 14th July 1968 to Shrikant Thackeray and Kunda Thackeray, he did his schooling from Bal Mohan Vidya Mandir, Mumbai and then studied painting from J.J. School of Art. His father was the younger brother of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and his mother was younger sister of Bal Thackerays wife Meena Thackeray. As a child, he learnt to play violin, guitar and table. Like his uncle, even he was fond of painting and loved to draw cartoons and caricatures and in his younger days he used to contribute to Bal Thackerays weekly magazine Marmik. He was also fond of photography. Raj Thackeray grew up in a political atmosphere and was always seen beside Bal Thackeray since childhood. This political atmosphere around him drew him towards politics and he then started participating and organizing events for Shiv Sena. Due to a similar style of speaking and many other qualities similar to Bal Thackeray, made many think him as the successor of Bal Thackeray in politics. However, Bal Thackeray chose his son Uddhav Thackeray over Raj to be his successor and the next chief of Shiv Sena. Raj Thackeray then decided to leave the party and to create his own political party and on 9th March 2006, he founded his own party in Mumbai and named it Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and during the formation of the party he said that he does not want any hostilities with his uncle and his uncle Bal Thackeray was, is and always will be his mentor. In 2008, his party MNS became the headline of every newspaper in Maharashtra after his launch of violent agitation against North Indians in Maharashtra and he promised to throw North Indians outside Maharashtra. This was a similar step used by Bal Thackeray when he newly founded Shiv Sena and launched violent agitation against south Indians residing in Maharashtra. By this step, Raj reminded Maharashtrians of the violent past of Shiv Sena. His next successful move was in establishing himself and his party as a force of Maharashtra by agitating against the English signboards and asking all the shops as well as malls to have a Marathi signboard. Many of the MNS workers were also arrested during the agitation but this helped his party to gain headlines and form his base in Maharashtra. His party and Shiv Sena opposed and also banned Australian cricketers in participating in IPL 3 in playing in Mumbai as a protest of the attacks on Indian students in Australia. The next big step of MNS was the forceful reinstatement of the sacked temporary employees of Jet Airways. He threatened the management that the company will have to face non-operation of flights from Mumbai if the employees were not reinstated. MNS contested its first assembly election in 2009 and won 13 seats. On 9th November 2009, Raj Thackeray and his party were in controversy again after attacking Abu Azmi for taking his oath speech in Hindi despite MNS asking all the members to take their speech in Marathi language. He resorted to street violence just before the 2012 Municipal elections in Maharashtra and his activists were successful in making the auto drivers withdraw their strike on the demand of higher fares. This helped the party win 28 seats in Mumbai Municipality and 40 seats in Nashik making MNS the single largest party of Nashik. The party was also able to open its account across Municipalities in Maharashtra. However, in the 2014 general elections his political prospects got severely beaten after all the ten candidates of his party suffered humiliating defeats and losing their respective deposits in the elections. The vote share of his party also fell from 4.7 percent in 2009 to 0.13 percent in 2014 elections. The upcoming 2017 assembly elections is vital for him and his partys survival and only time will say whats in store for him.Raj is married to Sharmila Thackeray, the daughter of a well known theatre personality in Maharashtra. The couple has two kids, their son Amit and daughter Urvashi.

Marathi Actress Ketaki Chitale Arrested For Derogatory Post on Sharad Pawar. Read All About The Row Here
India.com News Desk | May 14, 2022 9:37 PM IST
On Friday, Chitale shared a poem purportedly penned by one Advocate Nitin Bhave on her Facebook
Marathi Actress Ketaki Chitale Arrested For Derogatory Post on Sharad Pawar. Read All About The Row Here
indiacom
2022-05-14T10:37:19+00:00
2022-05-14T10:37:19+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
WATCH: Raj Thackeray Shares Old Video Of Balasaheb Promising Removal Of Loudspeakers From Mosques
India.com News Desk | May 4, 2022 11:21 AM IST
The loudspeakers row started when the MNS chief on April 12 gave an ultimatum to the Maharashtra
WATCH: Raj Thackeray Shares Old Video Of Balasaheb Promising Removal Of Loudspeakers From Mosques
indiacom
2022-05-04T00:21:20+00:00
2022-05-04T00:21:20+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Play Hanuman Chalisa If You Hear Loudspeakers Blaring Azan: Raj Thackeray Appeals To Hindus As May 3 Deadline Ends
India.com News Desk | May 3, 2022 9:51 PM IST
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Sunday appealed to all Hindus to play
Play Hanuman Chalisa If You Hear Loudspeakers Blaring Azan: Raj Thackeray Appeals To Hindus As May 3 Deadline
indiacom
2022-05-03T10:51:39+00:00
2022-05-03T13:49:39+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Leaves of All Cops Cancelled, Maharashtra Police on Alert After Raj Thackeray's Ultimatum Over Loudspeaker
India.com News Desk | May 3, 2022 4:26 PM IST
Maharashtra on Alert: MNS President had said he was firm on the May 3 deadline for the removal of
Leaves of All Cops Cancelled, Maharashtra Police on Alert After Raj Thackeray's Ultimatum Over Loudspeaker
indiacom
2022-05-03T05:26:21+00:00
2022-05-03T06:07:35+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
'What's The Big Deal', Says Shiv Sena After Police Files Case Against Raj Thackeray for Inflammatory Speech
India.com News Desk | May 3, 2022 3:55 PM IST
Maharashtra police chief Rajnish Seth said that the Aurangabad police commissioner will take
'What's The Big Deal', Says Shiv Sena After Police Files Case Against Raj Thackeray for Inflammatory Speech
indiacom
2022-05-03T04:55:36+00:00
2022-05-03T05:55:04+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Remove Loudspeakers From Mosques by Wednesday, Otherwise . . . Warns Raj Thackeray
India.com News Desk | May 1, 2022 10:59 PM IST
Raj further warned that "if the government fails to heed his ultimatum by May 3", then he would not
Remove Loudspeakers From Mosques by Wednesday, Otherwise . . . Warns Raj Thackeray
indiacom
2022-05-01T11:59:39+00:00
2022-05-01T12:46:10+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Section 144 Imposed in Aurangabad Till May 9. Full List of Restrictions
India.com News Desk | April 26, 2022 11:46 AM IST
Aurangabad district administration has decided to impose section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code
Section 144 Imposed in Aurangabad Till May 9. Full List of Restrictions
indiacom
2022-04-26T00:46:03+00:00
2022-04-26T01:23:30+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Loudspeaker Row: Devendra Fadnavis Skips Key Meet Called by Maharashtra Govt; BJP-Sena Tussle Worsens
Puja Sethi | April 25, 2022 2:33 PM IST
Loudspeaker Row: On Sunday, Amravati MP Navneet Rana & husband MLA Ravi Rana were sent to judicial
Loudspeaker Row: Devendra Fadnavis Skips Key Meet Called by Maharashtra Govt; BJP-Sena Tussle Worsens
indiacom
2022-04-25T03:33:00+00:00
2022-04-25T04:15:44+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Maharashtra: Curfew Imposed In This City After Two Groups Clash Over Removal of Religious Flags
India.com News Desk | April 18, 2022 3:41 PM IST
"On Sunday midnight, some anti-social elements removed flags of religion, leading to an altercation
Maharashtra: Curfew Imposed In This City After Two Groups Clash Over Removal of Religious Flags
indiacom
2022-04-18T04:41:33+00:00
2022-04-18T05:17:32+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Loudspeakers in Mosques Should be Shut till May 3, Otherwise we Will . . . Raj Thackeray's Warning
India.com News Desk | April 12, 2022 9:48 PM IST
"This is a social issue, not a religious one. I want to tell the state government, we will not go
Loudspeakers in Mosques Should be Shut till May 3, Otherwise we Will . . . Raj Thackeray's Warning
indiacom
2022-04-12T10:48:26+00:00
2022-04-12T10:58:32+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Use Loudspeakers Within Permissible Decibel: Bengaluru Police Sends Notices to Over 300 Establishments
India.com News Desk | April 7, 2022 5:09 PM IST
"This is a social issue, not a religious one. I want to tell the state government, we will not go
Use Loudspeakers Within Permissible Decibel: Bengaluru Police Sends Notices to Over 300 Establishments
indiacom
2022-04-07T06:09:42+00:00
2022-04-07T07:05:42+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
MNS Leader Held For Playing ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ on Loudspeakers Without Permission
India.com News Desk | April 3, 2022 6:11 PM IST
"They've taken away my amplifier. But I'd like to say, in the coming times, 'Jai Shree Ram' will be
MNS Leader Held For Playing ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ on Loudspeakers Without Permission
indiacom
2022-04-03T07:11:30+00:00
2022-04-03T07:11:30+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Tests Positive For COVID-19; Admitted to Lilavati Hospital
India.com News Desk | October 23, 2021 7:49 PM IST
Thackeray and his sister are admitted to Lilavati Hospital, said Dr Jalil Parkar of the hospital.
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Tests Positive For COVID-19; Admitted to Lilavati Hospital
indiacom
2021-10-23T08:49:56+00:00
2021-10-23T12:21:09+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
BMC Elections 2022: BJP-MNS to Fight Polls Together? Chandrakant Patil Breaks Silence After Meeting Raj Thackeray
ANI Feeds | August 6, 2021 3:13 PM IST
Patil also that Thackeray is of the view local residents should be given priority while giving jobs
BMC Elections 2022: BJP-MNS to Fight Polls Together? Chandrakant Patil Breaks Silence After Meeting Raj Thack
indiacom
2021-08-06T04:13:24+00:00
2021-08-06T04:13:24+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Video: Raj Thackeray Gets Emotional While Giving Farewell To Dog James | WATCH
India.com News Desk | June 29, 2021 1:52 PM IST
MNS chief Raj Thackeray along with his family bid final adieu to their beloved dog named James
Video: Raj Thackeray Gets Emotional While Giving Farewell To Dog James | WATCH
indiacom
2021-06-29T02:52:15+00:00
2021-06-29T03:19:07+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Who Is Responsible For Coronavirus Spread In Maharashtra? Raj Thackeray Blames Migrant Workers
India.com News Desk | April 7, 2021 7:34 AM IST
Maharashtra Coronavirus Latest News: MNS chief Raj Thackeray said the states these migrant
Who Is Responsible For Coronavirus Spread In Maharashtra? Raj Thackeray Blames Migrant Workers
indiacom
2021-04-06T20:34:56+00:00
2021-04-06T20:34:56+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Class 10, Class 12 Students Should be Promoted Without Exams: Raj Thackeray
India.com News Desk | April 6, 2021 4:14 PM IST
Raj Thackeray also demanded that electricity bills in Maharashtra be waived off for the lockdown
Class 10, Class 12 Students Should be Promoted Without Exams: Raj Thackeray
indiacom
2021-04-06T05:14:34+00:00
2021-04-06T05:14:34+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Sachin Tendulkar-Lata Mangeshkar Twitter Row: Actors Like Akshay Kumar Were Enough For Government's Task, Says Raj Thackeray
India.com News Desk | February 7, 2021 11:25 AM IST
"Govt shouldn't have asked big personalities like Sachin Tendulkar & Lata Mangeshkar to tweet in
Sachin Tendulkar-Lata Mangeshkar Twitter Row: Actors Like Akshay Kumar Were Enough For Government's Task, Say
indiacom
2021-02-07T00:25:37+00:00
2021-02-07T22:04:25+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Maharashtra Government Reduces Security Cover of Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray, Other BJP Leaders | Here's Who Gets What Now
India.com News Desk | January 10, 2021 3:38 PM IST
State BJP spokesman Keshav Upadhya termed it as "vendetta politics", while former chief minister
Maharashtra Government Reduces Security Cover of Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray, Other BJP Leaders | Here's
indiacom
2021-01-10T04:38:44+00:00
2021-01-10T04:40:08+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com
Sushant Singh Rajput Suicide Case: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Issues Official Statement
India.com Entertainment Desk | July 4, 2020 9:46 PM IST
Sushant Singh Rajput Suicide Case: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray talks about using his party's name in
Sushant Singh Rajput Suicide Case: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Issues Official Statement
indiacom
2020-07-04T10:46:05+00:00
2020-07-04T10:46:05+00:00
Raj Thackeray
India.com