Presidential election 2017: Amit Shah begins three-day Mumbai tour, to meet Uddhav Thackeray

As the action for Presidential polls bet a momentum in Delhi, BJP National President Amit Shah began his three-day Mumbai tour. Just as Shah entered the financial capital, ally Shiv Sena bowled yet another googly by proposing MS Swaminathan's name for the President's post.

Though the tour is part of Shah's 95-day nationwide tour to strengthen the party, the Presidential polls will be high on his agenda. It will include a tete-a-tete with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

With its 18 MPs and 63 MLAs, the Shiv Sena has 25,893 votes in its kitty and that has made the BJP President block on the Shiv Sena president's door. Apart from paying tributes to Dr Ambedkar, Shivaji Maharaj and Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar, Amit Shah will also proceed to Bal Thackeray Memorial to make ground for the proposed talks.

After proposing RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's name, Shiv Sena has now proposed MS



Swaminathan's name for the President's post.

"My father always said that we are a Hindu rashtra, so Mohan Bhagwat remains our first choice. But if there are issues with his candidature, then we would suggest MS Swaminathan's name. Apart from a Hindu rashtra we are also known as an agro-based economy. Since he has solutions for farmers' issues, so why not Swaminathan himself?," said Uddhav Thackeray.

Meanwhile, Shah had a series of meetings with party office bearers, MLAs, MPs and also tried to reach out to other smaller talkies who are rather happy to help the BJP for the Presidential polls.

According to sources, Amit Shah also reviewed the situation of the farmers' agitation. The Shiv Sena had openly participated in the process demanding loan waiver, a stand that did not go down well with the BJP.

Amit Shah will meet Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday.