Pranab Mukherjee, 13th President of India completes his term on July 24. Discussions are being held among the ruling party and the other parties as to, should Pranab Mukherjee be re elected for his second term as the President.
As per the conversations of at least three Union Ministers with Hindustan Times, it is unlikely for BJP to support Pranab Mukherjee for a second term. On the other hand, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi are in the opinion of supporting Pranab Mukherjee for a second term. The BJP members said that they do not have anything against Pranab Mukherjee, but if there is a possibility of someone being the President from the BJP family itself, then they would surely want that.
An electoral college comprising MPs and MLAs elect the President. The ruling NDA is falling short of 20,000 votes for majority. Support from the YSR Congress and any other support will strengthen their position.
Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam was the first, and the last, NDA candidate to become President in 2002.
Jharkhand governor Draupadi Murmu, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu, and a few others are seen as contenders from the ruling side. Former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, may be the possible candidates from the opposition side.