Sena slams Shah; says BJP may win polls but can it save

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Leaders from both the parties confirmed that Shah didn't give out any names or probable presidential candidates during the meeting but has reportedly assured Uddhav that once the BJP finalises a candidate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to him (Uddhav).

Raut reiterated that the Shiv Sena was keen on the candidature of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat or eminent agro-scientist M.S. Swaminathan for the President's post.

The BJP government in the State has been under continuous fire from its ally Shiv Sena, ever since they came to power in October 2014. Apart from Uddhav, Shah's closed-door meeting in Matoshree, the Thackeray home in suburban Bandra, also included CM Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav's son Aaditya Thackeray.

Transport Minister Diwakar Raote, while speaking to reporters here, said that Sena will raise the issue of fragile economic condition of the DCC banks after the notes recall exercise in November a year ago with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the cabinet meeting next week.

Thackeray told Shah on Sunday that the Sena would take a decision only after the BJP's nominee for the Presidential election was named. The meeting comes a day after the BJP chief, who is here on a three-day visit to strengthen the party organisation in the state, said his party would consult its allies before finalising the NDA's presidential candidate.

The Presidential polls, if needed, will be held on July 17 and the counting of votes will take place on July 20.

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Union Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu met Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and held discussions over the Presidential election. The source said, "Shah said the name of the candidate would be announced by Narendra Modi".

Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Shah recently said the BJP was ready for mid-term polls in Maharashtra. "In the current scenario, the Sena is still out safest bet for a stable state government", a senior BJP minister said.

The names opposition is said to be considering include former Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar.

The latest Sena-BJP tussle over a complete farm loan waiver has recast the spotlight on the seemingly irreconcilable differences between the two key players. "On the contrary they are supporting it", it said.

Other Opposition parties have maintained a caution and have even suggested that they might float a separate candidate the next day if they don't like who BJP nominates.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party, which drew a blank in the Goa Legislative Assembly polls, has made a decision to expand its base in the coastal state having a sizeable population of Christians.

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