RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat needs to be President for India to be a 'Hindu Rashtra': Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray once again proposed the name of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for the next President of India on Sunday, arguing that in order to transform India into a "Hindu Rashtra", RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat should become the next President.

Speaking to reporters at Aurangabad, he said, "For the first time, we (BJP-led NDA) have received such a strong political mandate. The formation of a Hindu Rashtra is the primary objective and hence, Bhagwat should contest the presidential election."

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The Shiv Sena, which currently has strained relations with its ally BJP at Centre and in Maharashtra, had proposed Bhagwat's name as the National Democratic Alliance's candidate for the country's top constitutional post earlier too, but the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief had dismissed such suggestions and asserted that even if his name is proposed, he “will not accept it”.

The demand had gained momentum after the Supreme Court announced its verdict for continuing the case of conspiracy against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti in Babri Masjid demolition case. The verdict ensured that BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani could not contest presidential elections.

(With Inputs from PTI)