The Shiv Sena on Monday said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat for the president’s post. “If India has to be made a ‘Hindu Rashtra’, Bhagwat will be a good choice for President,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.
The legislator said someone with a clean image should take over for the highest post in the country. “A Hindutvawadi leader is the prime minister of the country in the form of Narendra Modi. Recently, Yogi Adityanath, another Hindutva leader, was made the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh,” Raut was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
However, he added that the final decision to support Bhagwat’s candidature will be taken by party president Uddhav Thackeray. The prime minister has organised a dinner party this week for the NDA allies to prepare a strategy for the presidential polls. Raut said Sena leaders have not been invited to any such event yet.
The presidential elections are due in July and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani is being considered the front-runner for the post. Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla and BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi are also in the race for the president’s post.
In the last two presidential elections, the Shiv Sena has voted against the BJP. While it had voted for Pratibha Patil in 2007, the Bal Thackeray-led party had voted for Pranab Mukherjee in 2012.
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