Raj Shrikant Thackeray (Marathi: राज ठाकरे) (born June 14, 1968) is the founding president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (“Maharashtra Renaissance Army”), which is a regional party in the state of Maharashtra,India. He is the nephew of former Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, and cousin of current Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray.

Personal life

Raj Thackeray was born on June 14,With The Name Swararaj Thackeray in 1968 in a Marathi Kayastha (CKP) family to Shrikant Keshav Thackeray and Kunda Thackeray, Shrikant Thackeray was the younger brother of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray and Raj’s mother Kunda Thackeray is the younger sister of Balasaheb Thackeray’s wife Meena Thackeray. Raj’s father Shrikant Thackeray was a musician, cartoonist and was also well versed in the language of Urdu. He also made a couple of Marathi films. Raj is married to Sharmila, daughter of famous Marathi theater/films actor, producer-director Mohan Wagh. They have one son named Amit Thackeray and one daughter Urvashi.

Raj Thackeray did his schooling from Bal Mohan Vidya Mandir School in central Mumbai – Dadar, close to his residence in Shivaji Park and later on graduated from the prestigious Sir J.J College of Art.”

Like his father and uncle Raj is a painter and cartoonist. He had also expressed his desire to work for Walt Disney Studios. Raj Thackeray said when asked what he would have done had he not joined politics. “In my college days, I wanted to work with Walt Disney Studios. I drew cartoons even before my foray in politics. Film making is also a passion. I would have been doing either of these things.”

Political career

Raj Thackeray supporters attending his rally in Shivaji Park, MumbaiOnce seen as the future leader of Shiv Sena, Thackeray started his political career with Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena party in Maharashtra. On 9 March 2006, Raj Thackeray formed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) after being allegedly ‘sidelined’ by the Bal Thackeray’s son Uddhav. Shiv Sainiks (Shiv Sena members) who supported Raj’s leadership, in contrast to his cousin Uddhav (Bal Thackeray’s son), joined the MNS. The party was founded on the pseudo ideology of being the benefactor of the local Marathi population (Marathi Manoos).

In 2009, elections, his party won substantial marathi votes from Shiv sena,bringing congress-NCP ally to power.

Maharashtra rural development

In order to create industrial and rural development in Maharashtra, on 14 June 1996 Raj Thackeray officially formed the Shiv Udyog Sena and appointed its executive committee. It was also to “give self-employment loans to jobless” Marathi youth.

In the same year, he organised a Michael Jackson concert for the first time in India at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai. The objective of the concert was to raise funds for the organisation.