Raj Thackeray

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.

Early life

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.

Political career

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".