For Hindu Rashtra, Mohan Bhagwat should contest in Presidential Election: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray

The Shiv Sena had said that the RSS headquarters has become the "second seat of power" in the country and it does not deem anybody fit for the president's post except Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat.

New Delhi, May 7: Ahead of Presidential polls later this year, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, on Sunday, tossed the name of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat for the post of supreme commander of the nation. Thackeray said the formation of Hindu Rashtra remains an aim for all Hindutva forces and National Democratic Alliance enjoys a massive mandate in the Lok Sabha.

Speaking to reporters at Aurangabad, he said, “For the first time, we (BJP-led NDA) have received such a strong political mandate. The formation of a Hindu Rashtra is the primary objective and hence, Bhagwat should contest the presidential election.”

The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP in Maharashtra as well as at the Centre, had proposed Bhagwat’s name as the National Democratic Alliance’s candidate for the country’s top constitutional post earlier too.

The Shiv Sena had said that the RSS headquarters has become the “second seat of power” in the country and it does not deem anybody fit for the president’s post except Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party, which has had strained ties with ally BJP, had earlier also suggested that Bhagwat be made the next President of India. However, Bhagwat had dismissed such suggestions and asserted that even if his name is proposed, he “will not accept it”.

The demand had gained momentum after the Supreme Court announced its verdict for continuing the case of conspiracy against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti in Babri Masjid demolition case. The verdict ensured that BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani could not contest presidential elections.