Aditya Thackeray, son of Shiv Sena boss Uddhav Thackeray, arrived in New Delhi late Wednesday evening to invite Congress president Sonia Gandhi, whose support was crucial to forming the Grand Alliance coalition government for his father’s swearing-in ceremony as chief minister in Maharashtra.
Speaking to reporters, sitting in the back seat of his car, after his meeting with the Congress chief, the Shiv Sena leader said: “We came here to seek his blessings. We are Dr. Will also invite Manmohan Singh. ”
Soon after Maha Vikas Aghadi was elected the leader on Tuesday night, Uddhav thanked Congress President Sonia Gandhi for his party’s support.
“I had never dreamed of leading the state. I want to thank Sonia Gandhi and others. We are giving a new direction to the country by trusting each other. ”
The historic Shivaji Park in Dadar West, the venue for the swearing-in ceremony, is currently being read and for the mega event and will become the first member of the Uddhav Thackeray family to occupy the chief minister’s post. The ceremony will start at 6.40 pm on Thursday.
The Shiv Sena has an emotional association with the Shiv Sena Park, as it houses a modest memorial to the late Sena founder Bal Thackeray, who was cremated at a public funeral the day after his death on November 17, 2012, and his wife, Meenatai, At the entrance of the ground.
Party MP Vinayak Raut said that apart from many prominent political leaders, some 400 farmers have also been invited, including members of the families of farmers who committed suicide.
Among the political invitees for the ceremony were Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief and cousin of Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, senior leaders of the Sina-NCP-Congress alliance confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
Senior Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Anil Desai said, “It will be grand. Yes, everyone has been invited, ”when asked if Raj Thackeray and Sonia Gandhi were invited.
Senior NCP leader Jayant Patil also confirmed the list of invitees and said, “We have invited Sonia Gandhi, Mamta Banerjee and CMs of many states for the swearing-in ceremony of the CM of Maharashtra tomorrow.”
Delhi’s CM Kejriwal, who is fighting the BJP in Delhi and is facing elections soon in his state, is unlikely to attend tomorrow’s event.
“Kejriwal will not be able to attend the swearing-in ceremony in Maharashtra tomorrow due to prior engagements,” said an official of the Chief Minister’s Office.