<p>From being an ace photographer to getting closer to becoming the chief minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray has come a long way.</p>.<p>The big challenge that he faced was that as being a political heir to his father Bal Thackeray, he is often compared with the late charismatic leader and one of the most powerful orators. </p>.<p>Balasaheb had founded Shiv Sena in 1966.</p>.<p>Once known for his soft image, the 59-year-old Uddhav ji, as he is popularly known, has emerged as a tough leader, who could openly challenge the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo.<br />At the meeting of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, he was the unanimous choice for the post of CM.</p>.<p>In case, if he accepts, he would become the first from the Thackeray family to assume the post of power, which otherwise is known to run governments through "remote control".</p>.<p>As the Shiv Sena president or 'Shiv Sena pramukh', he is quite balanced and have an extremely modern and professional approach, and is often seen carrying a tab which has all finer details at his fingertips.</p>.<p>Born on 27 July 1960, to Balasaheb and late Meenatai, he was their third child after Bindumadhav or Binda and Jaidev. </p>.<p>He was named 'Dinga' by uncle, late Shrikant Thackeray, the father of his cousin Raj Thackeray. </p>.<p>In fact, Uddhav's mother Meenatai and Raj's mother Kunda are sisters. In fact, his aunt named him 'Shravanbal', an ideal son, as he was the most obedient among brothers and cousins.</p>.<p>Uddhav is a graduate from the famous JJ School of Arts and so as Raj.</p>.<p>In the nineties, particularly between 1995-99 when the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government was in power, Uddhav and Raj, accompanied Balasaheb at public functions. </p>.<p>In 2003, at the party's conclave in the hill town of Mahabaleshwar, it was Raj who proposed Uddhav's name as the executive president of the party. Balasaheb was then 76.</p>.<p>Slowly, he started taking over the functioning of the party at the instance of his father.</p>.<p>The first tiff was with veteran Narayan Rane, a former chief minister and leader of the opposition, who had to be expelled by the Sena supremo.</p>.<p>A major minus for him was that he cannot keep his cousin, Raj, in the party fold, the later rebelled and floated Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. </p>.<p>In 2014, the Shiv Sena and BJP contested against each other but came to form the government after the polls. But, Uddhav was always assertive continued to target Modi-Shah even while being in government. </p>.<p>When in December 2014, the BJP-Sena government started off, he shared excellent relations with CM Devendra Fadnavis but after the tussle for the top job, their relations soared.</p>.<p>During the 2019 polls and the last annual Dassera rally, he made it public that a Shiv Sainik would be the next CM, which now is realised.</p>.<p>He has come out with two photo books - Maharashtra Desh (2010) and Pahava Vitthal (2011). His expertise is in aerial photography and wildlife photography.</p>.<p>Uddhav is married to Rashmi and has two sons Aditya, an MLA and Tejas, a wildlife enthusiast and conservationist. </p>
<p>From being an ace photographer to getting closer to becoming the chief minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray has come a long way.</p>.<p>The big challenge that he faced was that as being a political heir to his father Bal Thackeray, he is often compared with the late charismatic leader and one of the most powerful orators. </p>.<p>Balasaheb had founded Shiv Sena in 1966.</p>.<p>Once known for his soft image, the 59-year-old Uddhav ji, as he is popularly known, has emerged as a tough leader, who could openly challenge the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo.<br />At the meeting of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, he was the unanimous choice for the post of CM.</p>.<p>In case, if he accepts, he would become the first from the Thackeray family to assume the post of power, which otherwise is known to run governments through "remote control".</p>.<p>As the Shiv Sena president or 'Shiv Sena pramukh', he is quite balanced and have an extremely modern and professional approach, and is often seen carrying a tab which has all finer details at his fingertips.</p>.<p>Born on 27 July 1960, to Balasaheb and late Meenatai, he was their third child after Bindumadhav or Binda and Jaidev. </p>.<p>He was named 'Dinga' by uncle, late Shrikant Thackeray, the father of his cousin Raj Thackeray. </p>.<p>In fact, Uddhav's mother Meenatai and Raj's mother Kunda are sisters. In fact, his aunt named him 'Shravanbal', an ideal son, as he was the most obedient among brothers and cousins.</p>.<p>Uddhav is a graduate from the famous JJ School of Arts and so as Raj.</p>.<p>In the nineties, particularly between 1995-99 when the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government was in power, Uddhav and Raj, accompanied Balasaheb at public functions. </p>.<p>In 2003, at the party's conclave in the hill town of Mahabaleshwar, it was Raj who proposed Uddhav's name as the executive president of the party. Balasaheb was then 76.</p>.<p>Slowly, he started taking over the functioning of the party at the instance of his father.</p>.<p>The first tiff was with veteran Narayan Rane, a former chief minister and leader of the opposition, who had to be expelled by the Sena supremo.</p>.<p>A major minus for him was that he cannot keep his cousin, Raj, in the party fold, the later rebelled and floated Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. </p>.<p>In 2014, the Shiv Sena and BJP contested against each other but came to form the government after the polls. But, Uddhav was always assertive continued to target Modi-Shah even while being in government. </p>.<p>When in December 2014, the BJP-Sena government started off, he shared excellent relations with CM Devendra Fadnavis but after the tussle for the top job, their relations soared.</p>.<p>During the 2019 polls and the last annual Dassera rally, he made it public that a Shiv Sainik would be the next CM, which now is realised.</p>.<p>He has come out with two photo books - Maharashtra Desh (2010) and Pahava Vitthal (2011). His expertise is in aerial photography and wildlife photography.</p>.<p>Uddhav is married to Rashmi and has two sons Aditya, an MLA and Tejas, a wildlife enthusiast and conservationist. </p>