After Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena announced its support to National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu for presidential polls, Maharashtra Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat on Tuesday expressed disappointment saying that the party didn't consult as it is a part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Thorat's comments come after Uddhav Thackeray said that Sena will support Murmu without any pressure and he also acknowledged that that this is the first occasion wherein a tribal woman is getting the opportunity to become the President.
Reacting to this, Thorat said, "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," he added.
"Everyone who supports the constitution and democracy is supporting Yashwant Sinha (opposition candidate) for President," he said.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray while announcing his decision said, "Nobody pressured me in the meeting of Sena MPs," referring to the meeting of Sena MPs held at his residence in Mumbai a day earlier.
After getting the support of some regional parties like BJD, YSR-CP, BSP, AIADMK, TDP, JDS, Shiromani Akali Dal and now Shiv Sena, the vote share of NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu has already crossed 60 per cent. It was around 50 per cent at the time of her nomination.
In the meeting held on Monday, most MPs of Sena had urged Thackeray to back Murmu's candidature.
Thackeray said several party leaders, especially from the tribal community like MLC Aamshya Padvi, former MLA Nirmala Gavit, and Eklavya Sanghtana's Shivajirao Dhavale had urged him to back Murmu.
He recalled that the Sena had backed United Progressive Alliance's (UPA's) nominees Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential polls held in 2007 and 2012, respectively, even though the Sena was a constituent of the BJP-led NDA at that time.
A delegation of Shiv Sena is likely to meet Murmu to convey the party's support to her, according to PTI.
Polls to elect the next president will be held on July 18. The race for the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be between Murmu and Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.
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