Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey has been "forced," according to Yashwant Sinha, the opposition candidate for the presidency, to back Droupadi Murmu of the NDA.
Uddhav Thackeray, who had previously backed the opposition candidate, switched his allegiance to Ms. Murmu earlier this week at the urging of 16 of his party's MPs.
According to the current political climate, Mr. Thackeray had stated on Tuesday, "I should not have backed her, but we are not narrow-minded."
Yashwant Sinha claimed that the misuse of the Enforcement Directorate was to blame for the Centre's efforts to weaken the opposition ahead of the presidential elections, adding that "by using agencies, they are pulling down elected governments."
According to Mr. Sinha, the central administration is attempting to "break the opposition parties before the Presidential elections."
But despite numerous local parties expressing a desire to back Ms. Murmu, Mr. Sinha seemed optimistic.
Droupadi Murmu can anticipate receiving more than 60% of the electoral college votes when all the parties that have endorsed her are included. The list also includes the Janata Dal United of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Biju Janata Dal of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Since Ms. Murmu was a governor from his state, it is widely anticipated that Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will back her candidacy.
However, no whip can be issued for the presidential elections, and MPs and MLAs are free to cast their ballots however they see fit.