Sena backs second term for Pranab; Congress says party leaders will take call

NEW DELHI: The Congress parried a question on the Shiv Sena’s push for a second term for President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday, insisting that the party high command

NEW DELHI: The Congress parried a question on the Shiv Sena’s push for a second term for President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday, insisting that the party high command will take a call on it.

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“We will let you know. We don’t know what Shiv Sena has said. The party high command will take a call on this,” Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza said when asked whether her party will back Mukherjee for a second term.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut maintained that Mukherjee, whose current term ends on July 25 next year, has proved to be the “best President” and nobody can doubt his capabilities.

“In the past five years, he has shown that he is a capable and non-controversial President, who is well-versed in national and international affairs,” Raut said, adding that he will meet Mukherjee next week.

In 2012, the Shiv Sena had taken a divergent stand from its old ally BJP and supported Mukherjee’s presidential candidature. Mukherjee too had visited Matoshree, the residence of the Thackerays, to seek the Shiv Sena’s support.

Except first President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad, none of his successors has had a second term in Rashtrapati Bhavan.