Shiv Sena MPs urge Uddhav Thackeray to support Droupadi Murmu
Thackeray had called the meeting to know for whom the Shiv Sena MPs wanted to cast their vote during the presidential elections.
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Mumbai, July 12: As many as sixteen MPs of Shiv Sena urged Uddhav Thackeray to support the NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu, instead of the Opposition nominee Yashwant Sinha. The presidential election is scheduled for July 18.
It may be noted that only 12 MPs from the Lok Sabha and two Members of the Rajya Sabha attended a meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray on Monday. The party has 19 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
Last week, Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale had written to Uddhav Thackeray asking the party to support Droupadi Murmu. “Droupadi Murmu comes from the Adivasi community and has a seminal contribution to social life,” said Shewale, asking Thackeray to issue instructions to the party MPs accordingly.
“The Shiv Sena is with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and will take a decision at the right time,” Shiv Sena MP and party secretary Vinayak Raut said.
Notably, Shiv Sena parted twice with BJP in the presidential election while it was a member of NDA. It backed Pranab Mukherjee over P A Sangma in 2012 and supported Maharashtra-native Pratibha Patil - candidate for Congress, over Bhairon Singh Shekhawat of the NDA in 2007.
This demand was made at the meeting that was called by Uddhav Thackeray at his residence Matoshree in Mumbai on Monday. Thackeray had called the meeting to know for whom the Shiv Sena MPs wanted to cast their vote during the presidential elections.
The Shiv Sena chief has reportedly assured his MPs that he will make the final decision on this issue in the next 2-3 days.
It may be noted that only 12 MPs from the Lok Sabha and two Members of the Rajya Sabha attended a meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray on Monday. The party has 19 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar said that all sixteen MPs agreed that Droupadi Murmu “is a tribal woman and that’s why they should vote for her”.
“The Shiv Sena is with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and will take a decision at the right time,” Shiv Sena MP and party secretary Vinayak Raut said.
Notably, Shiv Sena parted twice with BJP in the presidential election while it was a member of NDA. It backed Pranab Mukherjee over P A Sangma in 2012 and supported Maharashtra-native Pratibha Patil - candidate for Congress, over Bhairon Singh Shekhawat of the NDA in 2007.