The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has given in to its MPs' demand and will support the BJP-led NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu in the Presidential polls on July 18.
Earlier today, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut made it clear that supporting Murmu does not mean supporting the BJP.
His comments came after Thackeray called a meeting in Mumbai on Monday to discuss about the upcoming presidential elections.
"We discussed Droupadi Murmu (NDA's Presidential candidate) in our meeting yesterday. Supporting Droupadi Murmu does not mean supporting BJP," Raut said.
He also highlighted that the party had goodwill toward the opposition's Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha.
"The opposition should remain alive. We also have goodwill towards the Opposition's Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha. Earlier, we supported Pratibha Patil and not the NDA candidate. We supported Pranab Mukherjee also. Shiv Sena does not take decisions under pressure," he added.
The voting for the presidential election will take place on July 18 and the counting of votes will take place on July 21.
(With PTI inputs)
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