Shiv Sena to support 'Marathi Manoos' Pratibha

Mumbai, Jun 25: Playing the Marathi card, Shiv Sena, a major contituent of the BJP-led NDA, today announced its support to the UPA-Left presidential candidate Dr Pratibha Patil.

In a statement issued here tonight, party chief Bal Thackeray said Shiv Sena has decided to support Dr Pratibha Patil as she will be the first Maharashtrian to reach the coveted post and also the first woman to become the President.

The Sena, which has 56 MLAs and 15 MPs in Lok sabha and three MPs in Rajya sabha, all adding upto 22,000 votes, will be supporting a 'Marathi Manoos' Dr Pratibha Patil.

Political observers felt that this development was likely to jeopardise the 23 year old Shiv sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra, which has so far contested seven Lok Sabha and four assembly elections together and even shared power in the state and at the centre.

UNI

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