"After holding discussions with our party leaders, we have decided to back the NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. "(BJP chief) Amit Shah had met me and requested for our support for their candidate. In turn, I suggested him two names which he said the BJP will consider," Thackeray said referring to Shah's meeting with him on Sunday. "After the BJP announced the presidential candidate (Kovind), Shah once again called me and told me that the names which I had suggested were considered, but that they (BJP) had their reasons for not making them the BJP candidate. "Sena had earlier proposed the names of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and veteran agriculturist M S Swaminathan.Responding to a query if Sena will support the opposition parties if they field a Dalit candidate, Thackeray said his stand will not change now.

Source: Times of India June 20, 2017 16:43 UTC