Shiv Sena's support to Pranab Mukherjee for presidency has once again exposed its widening rift with BJP. The party, which has electoral alliance for more than two decades especially in Maharashtra, has blamed the BJP for indecisive, as it could not find a candidate for the Presidential race. Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who broke ranks from NDA during 2007 Presidential elections by supporting UPA nominee Pratibha Patil by raising the Marathi card, this time round the party has extended its support to a Bengali in the larger national interest.
“Let bygones be bygones. It is now time to think in terms of national interest. Let us all support Pranab Mukherjee unanimously,” Thackeray urged in a signed statement in party mouthpiece 'Saamna'. The Sena chief and his son, Uddhav Thackeray, who is party's executive president, clarified the support to Pranab was not in any way support to the Congress party.
