Congress will not back Mohan Bhagwat as president

President Pranab Mukherjee's present term in office will end on July 24.

New Delhi, March 28: The Congress on Tuesday said that there was no question of it backing the Shiv Sena's suggestion to consider RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for the post of President and said it will spell out its stance on a candidate at the right time.

Party leader Gaurav Gogoi told reporters here that the party's views about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were well known.

"It is very clear that we do not support RSS ideology and when it comes to appointing our President, at the right time, we will, of course, have our own internal discussion first and then share," Gogoi said in response to a query.

President Pranab Mukherjee's present term in office will end on July 24.

The Shiv Sena had on Monday urged the Modi government to consider Bhagwat for the post.

Sena MP and Saamana Executive Editor Sanjay Raut said the National Democratic Alliance - of which Sena is a member - and the BJP in particular should think of the RSS Sarsanghchalak if it wanted to fulfil its dream of achieving a "Hindu Rashtra".

IANS