TNI Bureau: The BJP-led is heading for a split over the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee for the post of President. The Shiv Sena has decided to go against the BJP and backed Pranab Mukherjee. During the 2007 Presidential Polls, Shiv Sena had supported Pratibha Patil, the UPA nominee.

While the BJP is trying hard to convince its NDA allies to go for a contest against Pranab Mukherjee in order to save its existence in political arena, Shiv Sena has declared its unequivocal support for the Finance Minister last last night and sought a consensus for him.

Earlier, Pranab Mukherjee had called Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray to seek his support on the Presidential Polls 2012. In Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece “Saamana”, Bal Thackeray has hit out at the NDA for failing to put up a candidate and sought a consensus on Pranab, saying he is the best candidate for this top post.

The Shiv Sena editorial also issued a veiled threat to the BJP, saying no parties should accuse the Sena of betrayal or back-stabing. The souring relations between BJP and Shiv Sena will embolden the Congress-NCP combine in Maharashtra further.