Although initially, Shivsena accused BJP that it is playing “vote bank politics” by proposing a Dalit nominee—Bihar governor R N Kovind—for the post of president but today Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena announced its support for Ram Nath Kovind, Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate for Presidential Elections 2017. Uddhav Thackeray said that his party has now decided to support Kovind’s candidature and all the lawmakers will vote for him in the presidential elections. According to him, “Our party leaders met today, and decided to extend support to Mr. Kovind”. He also said, “BJP Chief Amit Shah had called me on Monday and told me that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to field Ram Nath Kovind for the election, and all the alliance partners of NDA are supporting them. We met today and decided that our lawmakers will vote in Kovind’s favor”.
Earlier, Shiv Sena had said that it will announce its decision on Tuesday. Mr. Thackeray also said, “If the name of R N Kovind is being put forward with a political view to garner Dalit votes then we are not interested. Tomorrow we shall decide on whether to support the candidature of Kovind or not”. Earlier, Shiv Sena had rooted for the candidature of Rashtriya Sayamsevak Sangha (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Hinduism line and later proposed the name of agriculturist M S Swaminathan for the top post.
However, a Shiv Sena leader conceded that the party had no option but “to support Kovind”. He said, “What Thackeray has said today is what the party should have said. The NDA’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has declared Kovind’s name only yesterday and there is not enough time to react. But we can’t be seen wholeheartedly endorsing BJP’s nominee. Yet, there is no alternative to supporting him as it will not look nice and will be politically damaging. And that is the main reason why Thackeray has expressed the Shiv Sena’s position in such terms that it does not look too happy with the BJP’s choice, nor appears anti-Dalit”.
The Shiv Sena chief Mr. Thackeray also attacked the BJP leaders for frequently speculating about mid-term polls in the state, Maharashtra. He said, “Why the BJP is so desperate? Why only they are talking about mid-term polls. Hold them today if you will and Shiv Sena cadres would be fired up to fight”.
A senior Shiv Sena leader Mr. Raut told today that they had suggested 2 names for the post. One was of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. And If BJP has any problem with that, they suggested another name agriculturist M S Swaminathan. But as they have chosen some other name, the Shiv Sena has conveyed their decision to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Whatever may be the reason, BJP has some other plan. Other national parties are trying to find out the correct point for the selection of candidate but BJP is waiting for few more days.
