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Shiv Sena with NDA, to follow Bal’s directive
Hours after it stayed away from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting called in the capital to decide its stand on the Presidential poll, the Shiv Sena on Sunday evening chose not to attribute any reason for its decision to skip the meeting. But, the party maintained that it was very much with the NDA.
“We may not have attended today’s NDA meeting, but we are much with the NDA. Our party chief Balasaheb Thackeray will take a final decision in the matter,” Shiv Sena MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut told media persons here.
In a separate statement published in the Sena's official mouth-piece Saamna earlier in the day, Sena’s executive president Uddhav Thackeray denied there was any “confusion” in his party’s stand on the issue. He said that the Shiv Sainiks would follow the directive given by party chief Bal Thackeray.
“The nation’s attention is currently riveted to the Presidential poll. There is considerable clamour and fruitless discussion on the issue at the national level. But, there is no confusion or turmoil over the issue within the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena’s stand on the issue will ultimately be based on the directive given by Balasaheb,” Uddhav stated.
According to Uddhav, the party’s leaders Sanjay Raut and Subhash Desai had attended the first meeting called by the NDA in the capital to discuss the issue a couple days ago. “Our two leaders have spoken on the issue as desired by the Sena chief,” he said.
However, neither Uddhav nor Raut revealed the Sena’s stand on whether it was in favour of the NDA putting up the candidate against UPA’s nominee Pranab Mukherjee or not.
In the 2007 Presidential poll, the Shiv Sena had gone against the NDA nominee in the Presidential poll, Bhiron Singh Shekhawat. It had supported the UPA's nominee Pratibha Patil in the poll on the ground that she was a Maharashtrian.
Hours after it stayed away from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting called in the capital to decide its stand on the Presidential poll, the Shiv Sena on Sunday evening chose not to attribute any reason for its decision to skip the meeting. But, the party maintained that it was very much with the NDA.
“We may not have attended today’s NDA meeting, but we are much with the NDA. Our party chief Balasaheb Thackeray will take a final decision in the matter,” Shiv Sena MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut told media persons here.
In a separate statement published in the Sena's official mouth-piece Saamna earlier in the day, Sena’s executive president Uddhav Thackeray denied there was any “confusion” in his party’s stand on the issue. He said that the Shiv Sainiks would follow the directive given by party chief Bal Thackeray.
“The nation’s attention is currently riveted to the Presidential poll. There is considerable clamour and fruitless discussion on the issue at the national level. But, there is no confusion or turmoil over the issue within the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena’s stand on the issue will ultimately be based on the directive given by Balasaheb,” Uddhav stated.
According to Uddhav, the party’s leaders Sanjay Raut and Subhash Desai had attended the first meeting called by the NDA in the capital to discuss the issue a couple days ago. “Our two leaders have spoken on the issue as desired by the Sena chief,” he said.
However, neither Uddhav nor Raut revealed the Sena’s stand on whether it was in favour of the NDA putting up the candidate against UPA’s nominee Pranab Mukherjee or not.
In the 2007 Presidential poll, the Shiv Sena had gone against the NDA nominee in the Presidential poll, Bhiron Singh Shekhawat. It had supported the UPA's nominee Pratibha Patil in the poll on the ground that she was a Maharashtrian.
