Former Minister of Finance and External Affairs Yashwant Sinha will be the opposition candidate for the Presidential Election. Opposition parties on Tuesday announced his name after their meeting in New Delhi.
In a joint statement, the parties said they have unanimously decided that Yashwant Sinha will be the common candidate of the Opposition for the Presidential elections. Reading out the statement, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the government made no serious effort to have consensus on the presidential candidate.
The meeting was attended by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, SP leader Prof Ram Gopal Yadav, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, Tiruchi Siva of DMK and others.
Yashwant Sinha took to twitter, “I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step.”
I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step.
— Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) June 21, 2022
AITMC chairperson and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tweeted, “I would like to congratulate Shri @YashwantSinha on becoming the consensus candidate, supported by all progressive opposition parties, for the upcoming Presidential Election. A man of great honour and acumen, who would surely uphold the values that represent our great nation!”
I would like to congratulate Shri @YashwantSinha on becoming the consensus candidate, supported by all progressive opposition parties, for the upcoming Presidential Election.
A man of great honour and acumen, who would surely uphold the values that represent our great nation!
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 21, 2022
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar informed that Mr. Sinha will file his nomination on 27th June. He appealed on twitter, “We, therefore, appeal to all the political parties to support the candidature of Shri Yashwant Sinha so that the nation can have a worthy Rashtrapati elected unopposed.”
In the meeting of representatives of various opposition parties held in New Delhi today to deliberate on the candidate for the Presidential Election. We have unanimously chosen Shri Yashwant Sinha as the common candidate of the opposition parties for the Presidential Election. pic.twitter.com/76KR3ENSgJ
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) June 21, 2022
AITMC, General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee congratulated Sinha, “Heartiest congratulations to @YashwantSinha ji for being chosen as the joint Opposition candidate for the upcoming Presidential Elections. It is my firm belief that for all progressive parties who share the same vision for our nation, there could not have been a better choice!”
Heartiest congratulations to @YashwantSinha ji for being chosen as the joint Opposition candidate for the upcoming Presidential Elections.
It is my firm belief that for all progressive parties who share the same vision for our nation, there could not have been a better choice!
— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) June 21, 2022