Not in Prez race says Bhagwat, Sena's vote kitty could prove crucial

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that he was in the presidential race, wryly calling such reports "entertainment news".

He asserted that his name would not come up for the President's post and even if it is proposed, he "will not accept it".

"The news about I being a nominee for the upcoming Presidential elections is not true. The report that the media is running is entertainment news," Bhagwat said at a felicitation programme in Rajwada Palace here.

Clarifying on his rumoured Presidential ambition, Bhagwat said that as a member of the Sangh Parivar, he is devoted to his organisation and the society.

"When we joined the Sangh, we closed doors for all other possibilities. We work only for the Sangh and the society, and my name would not come up for the President's post. And even if my name is proposed, I will not accept it," he said.

Two days ago, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had floated the name of Bhagwat for the top post and suggested that he would be a good choice.

"It is the highest post in the country. Somebody with a clean image should occupy it. We have heard Mohan Bhagwat's name is being discussed for President.

"If India has to be made a Hindu rashtra, Bhagwat will be a good choice for President. But the decision (to support his candidature) will be taken by Uddhavji (Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray)," he had told reporters here.

Meanwhile,The Shiv Sena's total vote pool of 25,893 could prove to be crucial for the BJP in the upcoming Presidential polls in July later this year.

This explains Sena MP Sanjay Raut's snub to the BJP, by asking it to come down to 'Matoshree' for talks to seek Sena's support for the July Presidential elections.

According to sources in the BJP, the party could be short of numbers by about 20,000 to 25,000 votes in the Presidential polls.

Raut had refuted reports of invite from the BJP to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in New Delhi to firm up strategy for Presidential polls and instead asked the BJP to come down to Matoshree (the Thackeray's residence in suburban Bandra).

He had even pointed out that in 2007 and 2012 Presidential elections talks for Sena's support were held in 'Matoshree'.