Rashmi Thackeray is the wife of Uddhav Thackeray, the 19th Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena leader. She is the editor of Marmik, a weekly Shiv Sena comic magazine, and Saamana, a daily newspaper and mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena. Rashmi is believed to be the driving force behind Uddhav Thackeray’s rise.
Wiki/Biography
Rashmi Thackeray was born into a middle-class merchant family in Dombivli, Maharashtra. She graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from VG Vaze College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mulund, in the 1980s.
appearance
Height (approximate): 5′ 9″
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Black
Family and caste
Parents and siblings
Rashmi’s father, Madhav Patankar, used to run a small chemical manufacturing business. Madhav died in June 2020 at the age of 78. She is the second of three children. Rashmi’s brother, Shridhar Patankar, runs a real estate company called Samved Real Estate Private Limited.
Rashmi’s late father Madhav Patankar
Husband and children
Rashmi married Uddhav Thackeray on December 13, 1989. Rashmi is the youngest daughter-in-law of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
Rashmi Thackeray and her husband Uddhav Thackeray
The couple has two sons, Aaditya and Tejas. The elder son, Aditya, is the MP from Worli in Mumbai and the president of the youth wing of Shiv Sena. Tejas, on the other hand, is an environmentalist and wildlife researcher who has chosen to stay away from politics.
From left to right: Aaditya Thackeray, Rashmi Thackeray, Tejas Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray
Profession
Rashmi Thackeray joined LIC in 1987 under its 180-day contract labour scheme. At LIC, she befriended MNS CEO Raj Thackeray’s sister Jaijewanti, who later introduced Rashmi to Uddhav Thackeray. Besides pulling the strings in politics, Rashmi also owns several business ventures. According to The Quint, she has business partnerships in three companies and is also a director of ‘Samved Real Estate Private Limited’ and ‘Sahyog Dealers Private Limited’. In 2020, she was appointed editor of Shiv Sena’s weekly comic magazine ‘Marmik’ and is also editor of Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece and daily newspaper ‘Saamana’.
Facts/Trivia
- After Rashmi married Uddhav, she left the Thackeray family and lived alone for two years.
- In 1999, Rashmi wanted Uddhav to run the state if the Shiv Sena returned to power; however, the Shiv Sena lost that election by a few seats, according to the Hindustan Times.
- Rashmi prefers to keep a low profile but is well versed in mainstream politics. She frequently meets women party workers and Shiv Sena leaders.
Rashmi Thackeray with Shiv Sena workers
- Reportedly, at that time, Thackeray’s cousins Raj and Uddhav were vying for the succession to warlord leader Bal Thackeray and Rashmi Thackeray still played an important role in convincing party leaders to make way for Uddhav Thackeray as the heir apparent.
- Political analysts believe she is the second most powerful person in the Shiv Sena or the undeclared vice-chairperson.
- Shiv Sena members respectfully call Rashmi Thackeray “Vahinisaheb”.
- Whenever she appears in public, she is always accompanied by her husband or children.
- As a teenager, Uddhav had no interest in politics; many credit Rashmi with propelling Uddhav Thackeray from being a wildlife photographer to a politician and then the chief minister of Maharashtra.
- Rashmi is not only a loving daughter, a loving mother and a devoted wife, but she is also very passionate about music. She is an avid fan of Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education