Sena does JD(U), says support to Pranab and not to Cong or UPA

"Our support is in the national interest to Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential poll and not to Congress and UPA", party's leader in the Rajya Sabha Sanjay Raut said.

Raut said his party did not bring politics in the issue of Presidential poll as it felt that an "experienced" leader like Mukherjee is needed in the Rashtrapati Bhawan to avoid political instability.

Shiv Sena, the oldest ideological ally of BJP, was the first to break ranks in NDA on the issue of support in the Presidential poll followed by JD-U.

Raut, who is also the party spokesman, said this when asked about the absence of Sena leaders at the time of filing of nominations by Mukherjee yesterday and the failure of the party to propose or second the nomination of the veteran leader.

He said Shiv Sena has backed Mukherjee "without any expectation" as the Sena supremo Bal Thackarey felt the next President needed to be elected unanimously to send a clear message of stability.