The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray formally launched his 27-year old son Amit Thackeray as a new ‘Leader’ at the 13-year old party’s first mega-convention here on Thursday.
Amit Thackeray’s name was announced by a senior leader Bala Nandgaonkar and greeted with a standing ovation by the 20,000-plus gathering at the NSE Ground, Goregaon.
Accepting the ‘abhishek’ honour, Amit Thackeray folded his hands – and taking a leaf from his uncle Uddhav Thackeray – stepped forward on the stage, bowed and prostrated, and expressed his gratitude to the party leaders and workers.
It may be recalled that when he was sworn-in as Chief Minister at a mega-function in Shivaji Park on Nov. 28, Uddhav Thackeray had prostrated himself on the stage to express his thanks to the people of the state.
“This is my first-ever address on a public platform in the past 14 years of the party and my 27 years (age)… I am truly overwhelmed. This would not have been possible without the guidance and encouragement of Raj-Saheb Thackeray,” he said in his brief speech.
Clapping were his glowing parents, Raj and Sharmila Thackeray, Amit’s wife Mitali Borude-Thackeray, his grandmother, other relatives, party leaders and office-bearers and activists.
With Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya Thackeray in the government, Amit Thackeray becomes another third-generation son to rise from the state’s pre-eminent Thackeray clan.-IANS News
