Uddhav Bal Keshav Thackeray is an Indian politician and 19th Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He is also the President of Shiv Sena, a Hindu nationalist party founded by his father Bal Thackeray.
Thackeray was born to Bal Thackeray and Mina Thackeray in Mumbai and completed his schooling from Balmohan Vidyamandir from Maharashtra. He has two brothers and his cousin Raj Thackeray is also a famed politician. Thackeray was born on 27 July, 1960.
A graduate of Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art, he tied knot to Rashmi Patankar and has two sons. His elder son Aditya Thackeray is also a Shiv Sena leader and is currently serving as Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment for the government of Maharashtra. Thackeray is an accomplished photographer. He has also published two books 'Maharashtra Desh' and 'Pahava Vitthal'. The name of his official Facebook page is Uddhav Thackeray.
Thackeray made his political debut when he was made the campaign incharge of Shiv Sena in the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) in 2002 and the party won. He was appointed as the working President of Shiv Sena in 2003 and he became the Editor-in-Chief of his party's political mouthpiece Saamana in 2006. In the same year, Raj Thackeray formed his own party 'Maharashtra Navnirman Sena' after a split in Shiv Sena.
Uddhav Thackeray took over the reins of the party after the death of his father in 2012 and became the President in 2013.
He became the first member of the Thackeray family to occupy a berth in any government. He took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on November 28, 2019.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar faces scrutiny following a media report highlighting objections raised by two Election Commissioners regarding the SIR exercise, changes to Form 6, and control over electoral data. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, and M.K. Stalin, demanded the removal or arrest of the poll chief and the scrapping of the process. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party rejected the allegations, stating that the Supreme Court upheld the legal validity of the SIR process and that internal deliberations reflect a functioning democracy.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has faced strong criticism following an Indian Express report detailing internal objections raised by two Election Commissioners regarding the special intensive revision process. Key concerns highlight modifications made to Form 6, the centralization of electoral roll data, and restricted portal access for Electoral Registration Officers. In response, opposition parties have strongly condemned the developments, demanding legal accountability, the immediate removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, and fresh elections in multiple states. Leaders accused the poll authority of compromising democratic integrity. Conversely, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended the commission, asserting that divergent viewpoints during internal deliberations reflect democratic functioning rather than institutional compromise. The party maintained that the legal validity of the exercise has been upheld by the Supreme Court and dismissed opposition claims as politically motivated.
High drama unfolded outside Matoshree as Disha Salian's father, Satish Salian, accompanied by his legal counsel, arrived to personally serve a 500 crore rupees defamation notice to Aaditya Thackeray. The lawyer confirmed that the defamation notice was accepted by the residence. The action follows ongoing developments and an FIR in the Disha Salian death case, which is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had earlier responded to the matter, terming the allegations baseless, describing the move as political vendetta, and warning of potential counter legal action. Satish Salian stated that the personal delivery of the notice was intended to demonstrate that powerful individuals cannot take the common man for granted.
Discussions regarding the formation of a Third Front ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections are gaining momentum as the DMK explores options to create an opposition alliance without the Congress party. Following a meeting with Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai, DMK MP Kanimozhi is likely to meet Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. The political shift comes after tensions between the DMK and Congress following Tamil Nadu Assembly election dynamics involving the TVK. Regional parties are considering strategies to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party independently while sidelining Congress nationally, which could potentially impact the broader opposition bloc's electoral prospects.
This special broadcast covers major developments in technology, crime investigations, and civic regulations. The report examines global debates on artificial intelligence safety following the resignation of Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who cited existential threats from unchecked development. Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei outlined a three-step framework covering embedded reviewers, industry safety standards, and international coordination, alongside reactions from international leaders and industry executives Vineet Nayar and CP Gurnani regarding sovereign AI regulations and technological monopolies. In Gurugram, authorities investigate a hit-and-run incident after a woman biker named Sia was struck by a speeding vehicle amid family allegations of a deliberate collision. In Mumbai, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered a fresh FIR in the death case of celebrity manager Disha Salian following directions from the Bombay High Court. The broadcast also reviews civic concerns regarding high-decibel sound systems during Ganesh Utsav in Maharashtra with activist Vidyanand Bapat.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed an FIR in the Disha Salian death case following directions from the Bombay High Court and a complaint by her father, Satish Salian. In his statement, Salian alleged his daughter was gang-raped and murdered, disputing earlier police findings of suicide. The FIR names high-profile individuals, including Shiv Sena UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray, party chief Uddhav Thackeray, actors Rhea Chakraborty, Dino Morea, and Suraj Pancholi, alongside former police officials and a former home minister. The CBI is investigating allegations of delayed autopsy, evidence destruction, and narrative fabrication.
A political controversy has emerged over Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's official visit to the United Kingdom, where he attended the Silverstone Le Mans Cup alongside actor Ajith Kumar and announced plans related to motorsport infrastructure in the state. Opposition leaders raised questions regarding the schedule, transparency, and nature of the overseas tour, while state officials and TVK representatives pointed to newly signed Memorandums of Understanding in London with entities such as Sigma Technology Group to establish Global Capability Centres. The broadcast also features panel discussions on the political meeting between DMK MP Kanimozhi and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai, alongside updates on a communal dispute during Ganesh Chaturthi in Mysuru, police action in a Gurugram assault case involving a Kargil war veteran, and developments from the Women's Asia Cup.
In a Central Bureau of Investigation First Information Report concerning the death of Disha Salian, several prominent names from politics, cinema, and the police force have been listed following allegations made by her father, Satish Salian. Satish Salian alleged that his daughter was gang raped and murdered, disputing the narrative of suicide. The probe is examining allegations of criminal conspiracy, destruction, suppression, and fabrication of evidence, alongside possible delays in the autopsy report. The document mentions politicians including Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, alongside actors Dino Morea, Suraj Pancholi, Rhea Chakraborty, and Showik Chakraborty. Former police officials such as Param Bir Singh and Sachin Waze are also cited in relation to allegations regarding procedural delays and handling of the investigation. The probe aims to examine the circumstances of the 2020 death.
The Bombay High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to register a First Information Report and conduct a comprehensive probe into the death of celebrity manager Disha Salian. The High Court instructed the Joint Director of the CBI Mumbai region to appoint a senior, suitably experienced officer to record the statement of the petitioner, Satish Salian, and carry out the investigation. The court clarified that no individual will be treated as an accused unless reasonable evidence and material emerge during the investigation. The court noted that if no case is established, the agency can submit a summary closure report, which the petitioner retains the liberty to challenge. The order follows a petition filed by Disha Salian's father alleging foul play and irregularities in the initial probe conducted by the Mumbai Police. While the petitioner expressed satisfaction with the directive to lodge an FIR, the defence had argued that the plea was politically motivated. Political leaders also reacted to the court directive demanding a transparent investigation.
In this episode of Unpolitics, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh joins us for an in-depth conversation on the state of Indian politics, the Opposition's strategy, the Congress party's future, and the road to 2029.
This edition of 5 Live covers major national and global developments, starting with a massive political crisis for Uddhav Thackeray. Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting in Delhi, sparking speculation of a fresh rebellion and a potential switch to the Eknath Shinde faction.
Rumours of a fresh rebellion within the Shiv Sena (UBT) have surfaced after five out of nine Lok Sabha MPs skipped a meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree.
This episode of 'To The Point' covers Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in Evian, France and the big buzz over the Sena UBT split in Maharashtra.
The Central government has temporarily blocked the messaging app Telegram till June 22 and ordered Apple and Google to delist it ahead of the NEET re-examination on June 21.
On a special episode of UnPolitics, Milind Deora spoke about leaving the Congress to join Maharashtra’s Mahayuti alliance, saying the party had drifted from the centrist economic vision of his father, Murli Deora.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the final rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Baramati. Following his tragic demise in a plane crash, the state has declared a three-day mourning period. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reached Vidya Pratishthan to pay their respects, where full state honours are being accorded. An unidentified speaker and former NCP colleague paid tribute, stating, 'He was our leader and we used to love him... he had absolute control over the administration.' The programme highlights the arrival of various political dignitaries, including Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, and Home Minister Amit Shah. The report reflects on Ajit Pawar's legacy as a regional satrap and his significant contribution to Maharashtra's administration and political landscape. The atmosphere in Baramati remains somber as citizens and leaders gather to bid farewell to the 66-year-old leader.
This news bulletin covers the final journey and last rites of leader Ajit Pawar in Baramati, Maharashtra. The report details the arrival of dignitaries, including former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, to pay their last respects. The speaker notes that 'Maharashtra still grieves, as Maharashtra still bids farewell' to a leader described as the 'king of Baramati' for decades. The mortal remains are scheduled to be taken from the government hospital to his native village, Katewadi, before a final procession to the Vidya Pratishthan ground. The transcript highlights that the funeral will be conducted with full state honours, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to attend. Supporters and party workers from across the state have gathered to participate in the 'Antim Yatra' and offer their final tributes. The programme reflects on the profound grief and the political vacuum left by the leader's passing, emphasizing his connection to his home turf and his reputation for time management and aesthetic sense.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP and senior party leader Arvind Sawant paid an emotional tribute to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday, describing him as a “trustworthy man” and a “man of his words.”
On this Special Report, the focus is on the reactions from the political fraternity following a significant and somber development. Sanjay Raut, a prominent leader from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction, joined several other politicians in expressing his grief. The transcript highlights a rare moment of political unity as leaders 'cutting across party lines are expressing their condolences on a very, very somber moment today.' While the specific nature of the event is described as a moment of mourning, the emphasis remains on the collective tribute paid by the political class. The programme captures the gravity of the situation as the nation observes this period of loss. Sanjay Raut’s remarks reflect the shared sentiment of the political leadership during this time of mourning, underscoring the impact of the news on the country's political landscape.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the political row erupting in Maharashtra following the announcement of the Padma Awards. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has strongly criticised the decision to confer a Padma honour upon Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the former Governor of Maharashtra. The party alleged that the 'man who murdered democracy to install BJP-Shinde government in state is being honoured' by the Modi government. The transcript highlights the friction stemming from the 2022 political crisis when the Uddhav Thackeray-led government lost its majority. While the opposition views the award as a reward for enabling the current Eknath Shinde-BJP administration, the report also notes Koshyari's long political career, including his time spent in jail during the Emergency and his tenure as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. The programme explores the deepening divide between the Sena UBT and the ruling alliance over this controversial recognition.
