Mumbai: Droupadi Murmu, the NDA’s presidential candidate, received a red carpet welcome in Mumbai on Thursday by the BJP and the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who has decided to support Murmu in the upcoming presidential poll, was not invited.
Uddhav, who had initially backed Yashwant Sinha, had changed his mind and decided to back the NDA candidate in the presidential elections.
The move was widely dubbed as an attempt to stop the growing rift within the party. Shiv Sena fractures sparked a rebellion led by Eknath Shinde. During the process, Uddhav’s government collapsed.
Mr. Eknath Shinde was spotted at Ms Murmu’s reception, with his deputy Devendra Fadnavis seated beside him—whom he has publicly acknowledged as the “kalakar (artist)” in light of recent events.
Shinde has made it clear that over 200 MLAs from Maharashtra will support Ms Murmu—indicating that many MLAs from other parties will also support her. It seems Murmu will be the next President of the country.
Sources said a senior BJP leader would call the Thackerays to thank them for their support in the presidential polls.
