Mumbai sources have stated that NDA's presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind, who was in Mumbai today to interact with MPs and state legislators, spoke to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray over phone and thanked him for supporting his candidature. Sources have stated that a visit to Mr. Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra was not in Mr Kovind's itinerary which had raised eyebrows.
However, he made a phone call to Mr Thackeray and thanked him for supporting his candidature for the July 17 presidential election, Shiv Sena sources said and moreover Mr. Kovind held a meeting with elected representatives of the BJP, the Shiv Sena and other NDA allies at the Garware Club in south Mumbai.
Earlier Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil, as presidential candidates of
the UPA, had visited the then Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray at 'Matoshree' as
the party had broken ranks with the NDA in the past two elections for the
highest constitutional office. Currently Mr. Thackeray had announced his
party's support for Mr Kovind after a meeting of Shiv Sena leaders here last
month.
