mumbai the shiv senas decision to support ndas presidential poll candidate droupadi murmu is being viewed as a major setback for the mva and particularly for sharad pawar the architect of mva pawar was among those who had taken the lead in putting up opposition candidate yashwant sinha it now remains to be seen who attends the mva meeting convened on the issue by pawar on july 17 pawar had invited legislators and mps of ncp sena and congress for the meet sinha is expected to attend at a meeting of opposition parties earlier senas subhas desai had extended support to sinhas candidaturethe rift within mva was clear on tuesday congress legislature party leader balasaheb thorat expressed surprise saying since sena is part of mva it was expected the sena leadership would discuss the proposal with mva constituents shiv sena is a different political party so they can take their own stand but when the state government has been overthrown by adopting nondemocratic methods and the existence of sena has been challenged during the ideological battle the stand taken by shiv sena is incomprehensible thorat said he said the presidential election is an ideological battle and is part of the ongoing struggle to save democracy and the constitution this is not a battle between women men or tribals and nontribals he saidhe asked why did shiv sena support the nomination of droupadi murmu they have given some reasons for their stand but only the shiv sena leadership can tell the real reasons for the change of stand i cant comment on it during the crisis that erupted for mva government following eknath shindes revolt thorat had stood by thackerayncp spokesperson mahesh tapase said thackeray had made his view clear he has said sena is not supporting bjp but a tribal woman he said adding senas decision would not create any rift in mva