According to an editorial Saamana, Shiv Sena said that a Hindutva rubber stamp should be installed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Shiv Sena is the oldest ally of BJP, but as seen in the past it went against and supported the opposition’s candidate Pranab Mukherjee and Prior to him backed Pratibja Patil. This time also Sena has many a times said that its choice for the highest office is the RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat. This time also Shiv Sena is likely to stand and support independently and not back the BJP.
Shiv Sena, has been consistently pushing for RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as the next president, however, Mohan said that he was not interested for the post. Shiv Sena stressed on the point that, nation needs a person who can seal its fate as a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. Further adding it said that “So far, rubber stamps with secular credentials resided at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Now, to resolve the issues of Ram Mandir, Uniform Civil Code and Article 370 of the Constitution, it is required that a Hindutva rubber stamp assumes the post of president.”
According to calculations, 23 constituents of the NDA have 48 per cent vote share for the president’s post among themselves while the UPA, with its 17 constituents, has 26 per cent vote
Praising President Pranab Mukherjee, the Sena said people like him and Dr A P J Abdul Kalam have ensured that the honour of the post is maintained.