BJP trying to gain Sena votes for President election

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is taking efforts to convince the Shiv Sena to attend the NDA meeting scheduled on April 10, as Sena’s votes are crucial for BJP in the upcoming Presidential elections. Despite its sweeping victory in Uttar Pradesh, BJP is short of 20,000 votes to get a majority in the Presidential polls. Given that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AIADMK) support, too, is doubtful, Sena’s support from its 25,000 votes can ensure that BJP’s candidate crosses the 50 per cent mark safely. From BJP’s end, preparations for the Presidential polls have begun and the same would be discussed in the National Democratic Alliance meet, where BJP allies would be present.

Earlier, Sena had threatened to skip the meeting after a controversy about its MP Ravindra Gaikwad erupted. Following this, BJP national president Amit Shah invited Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for the meet. However, Sena is yet clear its stand on attending the meet. “It is not yet decided (attending the meeting). Uddhavji Thackeray will take the decision,” a senior Sena MP said.

The BJP, on the other hand is keen on Sena’s participation in the meet. For the 2017 Presidential poll, there are 776 MPs and 4,120 MLAs whose vote value totals to 10,98,882. Every MP’s vote value is 708 and every MLA’s is around 175, which is based on their respective state’s population. The halfway mark is 5,49,442 votes, which BJP needs to get its candidate elected.

In Maharashtra, Sena has 18 Lok Sabha and three Rajya Sabha MPs with voting value 14,868. In the Assembly, there are 63 MLAs whose voting value is 11,025. So, the Sena’s total vote value is 25,893.

Interestingly, Sena had supported Congress candidate Pratibha Patil in the Presidential election in 2007 and Pranab Mukherjee in 2012, going against BJP candidates then.  This time too, Sena had suggested RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s name for the top post before BJP could finalise the name of its candidate. Considering Sena’s history, BJP is taking cautious steps to gain Sena’s vote value, sources added.