The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena will support the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee Droupadi Murmu for the elections to the office of the President of India, Thackeray said, on Tuesday, 12 July.
While the decision comes a day after Sena legislators reportedly urged Thackeray to extend support to Murmu instead of the Opposition's joint candidate Yashwant Sinha, the party chief said that he had not made the announcement under any pressure.
Addressing the media, Thackeray said:
"I want to clarify that in the meeting of the MPs that was conducted yesterday, nobody pressurised me in any manner. The MPs told me that backing either of the presidential candidates will be my decision."
Thackeray said that considering the political situation in the state, the party should have opposed Murmu but the Shiv Sena has always risen above politics for the country's good.
"Given the current political situation, the Shiv Sena should not be backing her. But the party has never put politics above the good of the highest office of the country. When Congress-backed Pratibha Patil was running for the post, the then Shiv Sena chief (Bal Thackeray) rose above and beyond the party and extended support. The Shiv Sena had backed Pranab Mukherjee as well because he was the most appropriate fit," he said.
Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, while explaining the party's decision further, said that although they had political views different from that of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), they will vote for Murmu because she is an Adivasi woman.
"Droupadi Murmu is a tribal woman and we support tribals. That's why we will vote in favour of Droupadi Murmu," news agency ANI quoted him saying.
'Shiv Sena Did Not Consult Us': Congress Leader
Thackeray said that the decision was taken purely considering the requests of the Adivasi members of the Shiv Sena.
However, a leader of the Congress, the Sena's alliance partner, said that they had not been consulted ahead of Thackeray's decision.
"Everyone who supports the constitution and democracy is supporting Yashwant Sinha for President. We don't know why Shiv Sena is supporting Droupadi Murmu. Though Shiv Sena is part of MVA, it didn't consult us about this," Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sena rebel leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also announced his support for Murmu.
He said, "We will fully support Droupadi Murmu for the Presidential elections. All our MLAs will vote for her under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi."
'Support for Murmu Doesn't Imply Support to BJP'
Speaking to The Indian Express, Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut had earlier said: "Droupadi Murmu is the first tribal woman likely to be the President of India. There is a lot of tribal population in Maharashtra. There are a lot of Shiv Sainiks who come from tribal areas. There are MLAs too."
Raut also said that the decision to support Murmu for president does not imply that the Shiv Sena was extending support to the BJP.
After Thackeray's meeting with Sena MPs on Monday, a majority of lawmakers are said to have urged the former Maharashtra chief minister to throw the party's weight behind Murmu for president.
Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar also said that most of the MPs had urged Thackeray to support Murmu as she is from Adivasi community.
"Though Droupadi Murmu is an NDA presidential nominee, she is from the tribal community and a woman. Most of the MPs demanded that Shiv Sena should support her. Our party chief told us that he will decide in a day or two," Kirtikar said while addressing the press on Monday.
(With inputs from The Indian Express.)
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