Speaking to reporters at Aurangabad, he said, "For the first time, we (BJP-led NDA) have received such a strong political mandate. The formation of a Hindu Rashtra is the primary objective and hence, Bhagwat should contest the presidential election."
The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP in Maharashtra as well as at the Centre, had proposed Bhagwat's name as the National Democratic Alliance's candidate for the country's top constitutional post earlier too, but the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief had said he was not interested in contesting the presidential poll.