"Now that we have extended support, I don't think there should be any obstacle", Thackeray said, adding he can not endlessly wait for the opposition parties to finalise their candidate for the post.
WITH Shiv Sena joining other allies in backing NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, the 71-year-old Dalit leader is expected to have a smooth sailing in the event of an election. Extending his well-wishes, Mr. Thackeray said Mr. Kovind belongs to a simple family and is a down to earth person who will competently perform his duties.
After landing in Delhi, he met with PM Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah.
Sena had earlier proposed the names of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and veteran agriculturist M S Swaminathan.
Referring to BJP president Amit Shah's visit to his residence on Sunday, Thackeray today said Shah had sought our support for their candidate, though his name was not declared then. President Pranab Mukherjee has accepted the resignation of Kovind.
"First of all I thank Shiv Sena for reposing faith, confidence and trust in Mohan Bhagwat but it has dialed a wrong number". "We fully support Kovind".
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Doctors last week said Warmbier had suffered severe neurological injuries, for which tests did not conclusively reveal the cause. He was sentenced in March 2016 to 15 years in prison with hard labor.
He was received at the Mumbai airport by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his cabinet colleagues, BJP state President Raosaheb Danve, BJP city chief Ashish Shelar, party MPs and MLAs, and a massive crowd of enthusiastic party activists.
When we asked the bookie, what is the next step you are planning, he said, "Like me, many people from Maharashtra have suffered because of such unexpected decision".
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief mayawati said she is not satisfied with Ram Nath Kovind's political ideology, but can not reject his Dalit background.
Shah, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, visited Thackeray's residence "Matoshree" and held a close-door meeting, which started at around 10 am and lasted for almost 75 minutes. "If anybody had reservations about Bhagwat, then we suggested Swaminathan for the benefit of the farmers of the country. The reason is clear: we want him for a Hindu Rashtra", said Uddhav. "In the current scenario, the Sena is still out safest bet for a stable state government", a senior BJP minister said.
Responding to a question that if Sena will support the opposition parties if they field a Dalit candidate, Thackeray said his stand will not change now.
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