Deccan Chronicle

Sena support on Prez after choice

- SHRUTI GANAPATYE with agency inputs

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief on Sunday said told BJP president Amit Shah, who called on him, that the party would take a call on support after the BJP reveals its choice for president, a source said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its saffron ally in Maharashtr­a, the Shiv Sena could not reach a consensus on the Presidenti­al elections and the candidates for the coveted post.

BJP chief Amit Shah held a close-door meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s residence on Sunday. Sources said that Mr Thackeray has refused to extend a blanket support to the BJP candidate without knowing who it is. Mr Thackeray remained firm on two names for the race — RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and scientist M.S. Swaminatha­n.

The closed-door meeting at Matoshree went on for an hour. Maharashtr­a CM Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray were also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party asked the BJP to opt for a politician and not an apolitical person as its presidenti­al candidate on a day the BJP also reached out to the TMC and the BJD over the nominee.

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