Mumbai: In first litmus test after split, Aaditya Thackeray goes solo

Aaditya Thackeray. Pic/Ashish Raje

The Aaditya Thackeray-led Yuva Sena (under UBT) will be contesting Mumbai University's Senate election independently and not as part of the MVA even as the coalition awaits Shiv Sena UBT's official response. The polls are set for September 10. Yuva Sena is in tatters after aide Rahul Kanal joined the CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Kanal is said to have good contacts among the youth.

Party youth leader Aaditya Thackeray said that in the last senate election, all 10 Shiv Sena UBT candidates won. "We are ready to contest the election solo. We have strength. We have a hold on the voters. That's why the party leaders have decided to fight this election without any alliance. That's why, at present, we are preparing for the election alone," he said.

The last date to file nominations for the university election is August 18

After the split, this is the first election for Thackeray. Also, there is a huge split in Yuva Sena led by the MLA, mainly in Thane district. Senate member and son of MLA Yamini Jadhav, Nikhil has joined the Shiv Sena UBT. According to a university notification, the last day for submission of forms is August 18. There are around 92,000 voters in the election.

Meanwhile, the current political alliance partner of Shiv Sena UBT, the Congress youth wing is waiting for the Congress leadership's decision. "We are ready to contest elections. But we are waiting for our state high command's decision," said Zeeshan Siddique, MLA and city president, Youth Congress. "We are ready for every option. If our leader tells us to contest the election solo we can do so, or if they decide to contest as an alliance we are also ready for that." Shiv Sena UBT leader Adv. Anil Parab did not respond to calls and messages.

92,000
No of voters