MUMBAI: After joining hands with BJP to form the new government, the rebel Shiv Sena faction has appealed to opposition parties seeking votes for NDA's presidential election nominee Draupadi Murmu.
Sena MLA and spokesperson of the rebel faction Deepak Kesarkar said while a whip cannot be issued for the president's election as it is a non-political post, they are making an appeal to all the parties, inclduing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena, to support Murmu. "Maharashtra has a rich cultural history of supporting women in top posts. Balasaheb Thackeray had supported Pratibhatai Patil's candidature for the president's post instead of the NDA candidate. Murmuji has represented the tribal community and all elected representatives of the state must support her," Kesarkar said.
He said NCP chief Sharad Pawar had introduced the women's policy in the state, and Congress has a woman party chief, so they too should support Murmu. "We are appealing to all parties to set an example," he said.
