Uddhav first Thackeray to ascend to Maharashtra's top post

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday capping off a monthlong political drama in the state following the Assembly elections Thackeray is the first member of his family to occupy the top post and the third from Shiv Sena after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane He took oath at Shivaji Park here along with two leaders each from Shiv Sena Congress and NCPAs he takes over the chief ministers post Thackerays first priority would be to address farmers grievances among other issues and keep the flock together considering that he heads the newly formed Maha Vikas Aghadi an alliance of Shiv Sena NCP and CongressBorn on July 27 1960 in Mumbai Thackeray is the son of late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray He is a graduate of JJ School of Arts and a published author He is also a professional photographer whose work has appeared in various magazines and has been showcased at numerous exhibitionsThackeray was handed over the responsibility of managing the party during the 2002 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections in which the Shiv Sena performed well The 59yearold was appointed as the working president of the party in 2003 In 2004 Bal Thackeray announced him as the next party chiefHaving entered politics at a late age Uddhav has had a short span of time to prove his mettle in his party and the state Under his capable guidance his party swept several local and state elections He has also expanded the party base and network across the state including local bodies and Zila ParishadsThackeray organised a successful debt relief campaign for the farmers of the Vidarbha region The farmers in the region were under heavy debt following a long dry spell in 2007 In the Assembly elections held in October BJP and Shiv Sena contested the polls together and got 105 and 56 seats respectively However the two parties had a fallout over powersharing of the chief ministerial postThackeray asserted that the chief ministers post will be on a rotational basis with the BJP ruling the first half of the fiveyear term and Sena completing the last half However the BJP rejected Senas claim saying no such agreement was finalised before the elections and made it clear that Fadnavis would be the chief minister for full five yearsThackeray then severed his partys 30yearold ties with the BJP and entered into talks with Congress and NCP two ideologically different parties charting an unlikely alliance Later the Presidents Rule was imposed in the state as no party came forward to form the government even as negotiations between Congress NCP and Shiv Sena progressed It was finally decided that Thackeray would be the chief minister and head the alliance of Maha Vikas AghadiHowever in a dramatic turn of events Fadnavis and NCP leader Ajit Pawar took oath as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively on November 23 pushing the state into deeper political chaos and nixing Shiv Sena Congress and NCPs bid to form government in the state NCP chief Sharad Pawar quickly clarified that his nephews decision to join hands with BJP was his personal choice and not of the partysAfter days of quick political developments in the state that included a grand public parade by MLAs from Shiv Sena Congress and NCP Fadnavis and Pawar tendered their resignations While Fadnavis said his party did not have the numbers to prove majority on the floor of the Assembly Pawar stepped down due to personal reasonsTheir resignations came after the Supreme Court had asked the Fadnavis government to prove its majority in the 288member Assembly before 5 pm on Wednesday On Tuesday Thackeray was unanimously elected as the leader of the triparty alliance which met the Governor BS Koshyari to stake claim to form the government in the stateThackeray is married to Rashmi Thackeray and has two sons Aaditya and Tejas The 59yearolds photo book Maharashtra Desha 2010 which is full of breathtaking aerial shots offers a glimpse into the cultural fabric physical beauty and historical perspective of MaharashtraCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates