Dalit Prez candidate is merely a vote-bank politics: Uddhav

June 19, 2017 21:35

On the day the BJP announced Ram Nath Kovind as the NDA's presidential nominee, its alliance partner Shiv Sena today said the party will come out with its "final decision" tomorrow.

Addressing the 51st Foundation Day function of Sena in Mumbai suburban Matunga, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said his party will not back Kovind if he has been chosen with an intention to garner Dalit votes.

"We have never played politics using anybody as a shield. We had suggested the name of M S Swaminathan so that farmers get benefited. We will always support the cause of farmers.

"There are attempts being made to play politics over a Dalit presidential candidate. If that is so, we are not interested in backing him. We will give our final decision on the NDA nominee tomorrow," Thackeray said.

Earlier in the day, the BJP named Dalit leader and Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, who has been associated with the party and the RSS, as the NDA nominee for the top constitutional post.

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