Raj Shrikant Thackeray (born as Swaraj Shrikant Thackeray) is an Indian politician, cartoonist and the founder and president of the right-wing Marathi ethnocentric regional political party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in the state of Maharashtra, India. He is the nephew of Balasaheb Thackeray, and a cousin of Uddhav Thackeray, the current leader and chairperson of the Shiv Sena.
Raj Thackeray’s commonly used name is a contraction of Swaraj. His parents were Shrikant Thackeray and Kunda Thackeray (younger sister of Bal Thackeray’s wife Meena Thackeray). As a child he learnt the tabla, the guitar and the violin. He also contributed cartoons to Marmik, the weekly magazine of Bal Thackeray.
Raj Thackeray and his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, state that Maharashtra State, Marathi language and Marathi Manoos are subverted by the influence of Marathi politicians.[19] He has opposed immigration into Maharashtra from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Raj is married to Sharmila Wagh, daughter of Marathi cinema photographer, producer-director Mohan Wagh. They have one son named Amit Thackeray and one daughter Urvashi Thackeray.