Today, Uddhav Thackeray declared that the Shiv Sena he leads will back Droupadi Murmu, the NDA-led BJP candidate, in the July 18 presidential elections. After 16 of the party’s 22 MPs urged Mr. Thackeray supported her ” because she is a woman from a tribal community”.
On the surface, Mr. Thackeray seems to have bowed to internal pressure because his Sena is already weakened as a result of Eknath Shinde’s breakaway last month, which allowed him to succeed him as Chief Minister of Maharashtra with the backing of the BJP. However, Ms. Murmu’s tribal heritage is a consideration, which Mr. Thackeray seized upon.
However, Mr. Thackeray is now more in line with the demands made by the Sena mutineers last month, which was to leave the Congress and NCP and rejoin the BJP, their “natural ally.” After the majority of his MLAs supported Mr. Shinde, he was forced to retire since he had refused.
Following a coup by party leader Eknath Shinde, Thackeray resigned as chief minister of Maharashtra last month. Shinde then assumed the position, with senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis serving as his deputy.
Sanjay Raut, a Sena member, stated earlier in the day that supporting Murmu does not imply backing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Another strength test was conducted yesterday when Mr. Thackeray called a meeting of the party’s 22 lawmakers, including 19 in the Lok Sabha and three in the Rajya Sabha. Six of them, who are already in Ms. Murmu’s corner and are with Eknath Shinde, did not show up. And the 16 Thackeray supporters had the same opinion in favour of Ms. Murmu.
