Uddhav Thackeray's Support To NDA Choice For President Causes Maha-Rift

Uddhav Thackeray today announced that the Shiv Sena led by him will support Droupadi Murmu, the BJP-led NDA's candidate, in the Presidential polls on July 18. The decision comes a day after 16 of the party's 22 MPs told Mr Thackeray to support her "because she is a woman from a tribal community". Though, this is not out of character for the Sena. It has broken ranks with its allies twice in the past, to support Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee, in the Presidential elections.