It took Aaditya Thackeray, former minister and leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), three years to write a letter to the people in his assembly constituency, Worli, in South Mumbai.
Aaditya’s letter, seen by many as an attempt to connect with voters in his constituency comes in the wake of a concerted effort by the BJP and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Shiv Sena faction to take up issues affecting people in Worli. Over a month ago, a sizeable number of Shiv Sainiks had joined Eknath Shinde group in Worli. It was a huge setback for Aaditya and Uddhav Thackeray, who had thought there would be no defections from Worli as Aaditya had taken good care of the cadre and the people during his two and half years tenure as a minister.
The emotional note took a dig at the BJP and CM Shinde without naming them directly. “I had promised you that I will make Worli ‘A+’ constituency in Mumbai. So much work has been done that everyone is entering Worli to share the credit,” Aaditya wrote.
He further wrote that the opposition played dirty politics and toppled the people-centric government of Uddhav Thackeray. “But they cannot stop us from providing selfless service to people. With your blessings and love, I will continue my work for development in Worli.”
Just before Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Dussehra rally in October, hundreds of Shiv Sainiks had joined the Shinde group. Many of them were from Worli Koliwada, a fishermen’s settlement. The fishing community has been upset with Aaditya’s pet Mumbai coastal road project. They felt that the Thackerays were not responsive enough to their grievances that coastal road will affect their livelihoods. They were happy about the change in power in Maharashtra and felt that the new government would take into consideration their demands. Chief Minister Shinde had assured them that he will listen to all their problems pertaining to the coastal road project. “Kolis are the sons of the soil of Worli and we will resolve their problems,” Shinde had said.