Incumbent President Mukherjee is due to retire on July 24.
Karnataka Congress leader and former Railway Minister Jaffer Sharief has reportedly written to PM Modi, supporting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for the President's post. This is in sharp contrast to the Congress' stand on the issue.
"There are different schools of thoughts in India and it is but natural for such a vast country. Shri Mohan Bhagwat may belong to one school of thought but there should not be any doubt about his patriotism, love for the people of India, loyalty to the nation," Sharief reportedly wrote in a letter to PM Narendra Modi. "I personally feel nobody should find fault with Mohan Bhagwat's name being considered for President," he said.
The Congress had earlier said it did not support Shiv Sena's suggestion of making RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as the next President as it "opposed the saffron ideology". "It is very clear that we do not support RSS ideology," Congress spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi had told reporters. "When it comes to appointing our President...at the right time, we will, of course, have our own internal discussion first and then announce the nominee," he had said.
Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had put forth a suggestion that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat would be a good choice for President to make India a "Hindu Rashtra".
"Somebody with a clean image should occupy it. We have heard that 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," he had said.
However, Bhadwat himself has 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 in Nagpur a few days ago.
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.
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