NDA dithering Pawar's call gets Sena vote for Pranab

Vexation at the lack of unanimity within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on whom to support for President, followed by a persuasive telephone call from Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, led to Shiva Sena supremo Bal Thackeray announcing his party’s support for Pranab Mukherjee, nominee of the United Progressive Alliance.

Although Pawar, a Union agriculture minister, and Thackeray are arch political rivals, they also have a personal friendship dating back four decades.

During the 2007 Presidential election, the ‘Marathi-first’ Sena used that criterion to support UPA nominee Pratibha Patil, a daughter of Maharashtra. This time, explains a party spokesman, it was the need to send a “we are all united” signal that made the Sena decide to extend its support to Mukherjee.

The Sena's decision would boost the prospects of the UPA nominee significantly, as it has 15 MPs, including 11 in the Lok Sabha, 46 MLAs and seven MLCs in the Maharashtra legislature.

Sena MP and spokesman Sanjay Raut told Business Standard: "Despite a series of meetings, there was no unanimity among NDA partners to suggest its nominee for the Presidential election. As far as the candidature of former President Abdul Kalam was concerned, the name had come from Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee (who are with the UPA, not the NDA). And, Kalam backed out. The name of former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma was also being discussed but the Shiv Sena had already declared its opposition."

Therefore, he said, considering Mukherjee's stature, the Sena chief decided he was the right candidate and announced the party's support. Thackeray took this stand in the larger interest of the country, he said, emphasising the need for an unanimous election of Mukherjee to Rashtrapati Bhavan. "A message of ‘we are all united’ should go around, the chief insisted and decided to support Mukherjee," he said.

Pawar had earlier told this correspondent that he had a conversation with the Sena leadership on Saturday, suggesting they should support Mukherjee during the election. When asked, Raut said: "Several party leaders, including Sharad Pawar, keep on talking to Balasaheb."

Meanwhile, Thackeray has said "The country's prestige is at stake for political gains. Those who have no merit are also in the race.” Adding: “Nobody should dare level allegations of treachery and backstabbing against the Shiv Sena. The Sena is not out to seek vengeance because such allegations were made earlier."