Palghar Shiv Sena MP Rajendra Gavit has written to former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray requesting the Shiv Sena to support the BJP-supported Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu in the ensuing elections to be held on 18 July. Gavit has left the decision to Thackeray to support Murmu instead of Yashwant Sinha, the nominee of the Opposition.
In the letter, Gavit said he belongs to the Adivasi community and it will be a proud moment for the Adivasi community to support Murmu and will be the first woman Adivasi President of the nation.
In the letter dated 6 July, Gavit said the late Balasaheb Thackeray had unconditionally supported the then UPA candidate Pratibha Patil who was from Maharashtra as well as Pranab Mukherjee and both were elected as President of the country so similarly, Uddhav should also support Murmu.
Rahul Shewale, Sena MP from Mumbai, had already written to Uddhav to support Droupadi Murmu in the Presidential election and now Gavit is the second Sena MP to voice support for Murmu's candidature.
Shiv Sena has 19 MPs, including the lone Sena MP from the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
