Shiv Sena says Mohan Bhagwat should become President to transform India into Hindu Rashtra

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said in order to transform India into a Hindu nation, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat should become the next President of the country.

"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," Uddhav said while speaking to reporters at Aurangabad.

The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP in Maharashtra as well as at the Centre, 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 said he was not interested in contesting the presidential poll.

In the party's mouthpiece 'Saamna', Uddhav said that Bhagwat was best placed to implement the concept of Hindu Rashtra.

"After a long time, some party has got one-handed power at the Centre. Who doesn't want a strong president for the country? That's why we have proposed Mohan Bhagwat's name for presidential election," said Uddhav Thackeray.

On being asked whether Bhagwat was a suitable candidate to implement the concept of 'Hindu Rashtra', Uddhav Thackeray said, "Why not? At other places RSS candidates get appointed to important positions, then why not appoint him as President of India?"

Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana in its editorial had earlier called RSS Headquarters as second seat of power.