Raj Thackeray
| Raj Thackeray | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Founder, Leader and Chairperson of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena | |
|
Assumed office 19 March 2006 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Swararaj Shrikant Thackeray 14 June 1968 Bombay, Maharashtra, India |
| Political party | Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (2006–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Shiv Sena (before 2006) |
| Spouse(s) | Sharmila Thackeray |
| Children | Amit Thackeray (son) Urvashi Thackeray (daughter) |
| Parents | Shrikant Thackeray, Kunda Thackeray |
| Residence | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Alma mater | University of Mumbai |
| Profession | Politician, Illustrator |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Raj Shrikant Thackeray (born as Swararaj Shrikant Thackeray) is an Indian politician and the founder and president of the right-wing Marathi ethnocentric regional political party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena ("Maharashtra Reformation Army") in the state of Maharashtra, India. He is the nephew of Bal Thackeray, and a cousin of Uddhav Thackeray, the current leader and chairperson of the Shiv Sena.
Raj Thackeray's commonly used name is a contraction of Swararaj. His parents were Shrikant Thackeray (younger brother of Bal Thackeray) and Kunda Thackeray (younger sister of Bal Thackeray's wife Meena Thackeray). As a child he learnt the tabla, the guitar and the violin. He also contributed cartoons to Marmik, the weekly magazine of Bal Thackeray.
Raj Thackeray resigned from his uncle's party in January 2006 and announced his intention to start a new political party. On 9 March 2006 in Mumbai, Thackeray founded party named "Maharashtra Navnirman Sena". At the time of the party's foundation, Thackeray stated that he does not want to have hostilities with his uncle who "was, is and always will be (his) mentor".
In February 2008 Raj Thackeray led a violent movement against the dominance of migrants from the North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in Maharashtra and more so in its commercial capital of Mumbai.
His party and Shiv Sena banned Australian cricketers participating in IPL 3 from playing in Mumbai as a protest against the attack on Indian students down under. At a rally in Shivaji Park, Raj warned that if the dadagiri (intimidating dominance) of these people in Mumbai and Maharashtra continued, he would be compelled to make them leave the metropolis. Raj was arrested along with a Samajwadi Party leader, Abu Azmi, but was released on paying a penalty of ₹15,000 (US$230).
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