Shiv Sena suspects BJP may field Pranab Mukherjee as PM candidate; daughter rubbishes theory

Raut said the RSS might ask BJP to propose Mukherjee's name for the Prime Ministerial position if it falls short in achieving numbers.

Mukherjee recently attended a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) event in its headquarters in Nagpur.

Speaking to media, Raut said: " It is being felt that the RSS is preparing itself for a situation where it might put forth Pranab Mukherjee as Prime Minister in case the BJP fails to get required numbers."

However, Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee has negated such suspicions.

She said her father will not enter into active politics again.

"Mr. Raut, after retiring as President of India, my father is NOT going to enter into active politics again," the ex-President's daughter tweeted.

Sharmistha had earlier protested against his father's decision to attend the RSS event.

She had warned that it would give the BJP and RSS “full handle” to plant rumours and false stories.

Pranab Mukherjee attends RSS event:

Amid massive disappointment of his political clan, former President of India and Congress veteran Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday created history by addressing an event of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) in Nagpur, invoking the spirit of nationalism and patriotism while calling for unity and plurality as the core ethos of India.

Hailing the ancient legacy of India, Mukherjee said "intolerance dilutes the idea of nationalism" even as his presence at the RSS event is seen as a historic move that earned the right-wing Hindu organisation, considered a communal and untouchable force by the Congress, a legitimacy and respectability hitherto denied by India's "secular" leaders and political outfits.

Sharing the stage with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, he urged everyone to believe in "One India, One identity."

What did Sharmistha Mukherjee say:

Mukherjee's daughter and Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee on June 6 disapproved his father's decision to attend an RSS event.

"Hope @CitiznMukherjee now realises from today's’ incident, how BJP dirty tricks dept operates. Even RSS wouldn’t believe that u r going 2 endorse its views in ur speech. But the speech will be forgotten, visuals will remain & those will be circulated with fake statements. 1/2," Pranab Mukherjee's daughter tweeted.

".@CitiznMukherjee By going 2 Nagpur, u r giving BJP/RSS full handle 2 plant false stories, spread falls rSumours as 2day & making it somewhat believable. And this is just d beginning! 2/2," she said.

Image: twitter.com/RSSorg