Sena caught in dilemma

The Shiv Sena on Saturday remained ambiguous on whether it would support Pratibha Patil, who hails from Maharashtra. The editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna said though the Sena had adopted the Hindutva ideology, it never abandoned the Maharashtrian pride asmita, and in Patil, a Maharashtrian would have the privilege to become the President.

The Sena top brass met on Friday for two hours and discussed the presidential elections. Sena chief Bal Thackeray will announce the party8217;s decision on June 19.

Meanwhile, the editorial recalled that socialist stalwarts Achutrao Patwardhan and S M Joshi were offered the candidature for President8217;s post in the past, but both of them had declined.