He stopped short of spelling out a complete rejection of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) presidential candidate, but Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said if BJP picked a Dalit with an eye on electoral gains, the Sena had no interest in supporting it.
The meeting was part of the BJP's strategy to evolve a consensus among all political parties over the Presidential polls and to ensure the support of its oldest ally, the Shiv Sena, for the NDA nominee.
However, he said a final decision on the BJP candidate would be taken at a meeting of party leaders here scheduled for Tuesday.
Thackeray told Shah on Sunday that the Sena would take a decision only after the BJP's nominee for the Presidential election was named.
Sources close to the BJP leadership had earlier told News18 that Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav and Naresh Agarwal met Union minister Venkaiah Naidu and communicated that they would want a "political person" in the Raisina Hill.
Against the backdrop of a speculation that mid-term polls could be in offing in Maharashtra, he said Sena is not unduly anxious about the snap polls, but is more concerned about suicides being committed by farmers. Gopal Krishna Gandhi, a former diplomat along with current incumbent Pranab Mukherjee are the top choices for the Opposition.
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However, he said a final decision on the BJP candidate would be taken at a meeting of party leaders here scheduled for Tuesday.
"We need the Sena for the presidential polls".
Thackeray also mentioned party favorites RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and agro-scientist M. S. Swaminathan, saying that said Bhagwat was proposed because India is a Hindu nation and that the country lost a good opportunity by ignoring him.
The separatists in West Bengal are heavily armed and get support from various quarters, though Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is trying her best by inviting them for talks, the Sena said.
On the recent farm loan waiver announced by the Maharashtra government, Mr. Shah had said through it the state was offering relief to the farmers. The value of each Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MP's vote is 708 and value of vote of MLAs is decided by population of that state. They said that when they decide, they will come back to us with a proposal.
Only last week, the Sena claimed that it could take an independent line on presidential elections, creating a flutter in the BJP.
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