As the tradition goes, ruling party first decides the candidate and declare the names of the nominees for the Presidential Polls. But as nothing of this is yet done by the BJP-led NDA, the opposition parties are coming up together as one to decide a consensus presidential candidate.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that, non-NDA parties will make every possible attempt to find “the best person” for India in case the NDA alliance does not reach out to them. He further added that NDA cannot take the country for granted regarding this issue and the opposition parties will put up a concerted fight as it has many “deserving” candidates.
Singhvi said that numbers of meetings have been conducted by the non-NDA parties to come up with a consensus presidential candidate, but he did not disclose any name yet. He also mentioned the social bonding lunch held by Congress High Command Sonia Gandhi at her residence to discuss about the same.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the opposition parties will take the decision, once the notification comes as there is no initiative taken by the ruling party yet. “We will finalise the candidate based on the timeline for the polls after holding consultations and will field a candidate who can uphold the constitutional principles of our republic,” he said. He disclosed the name of Gopal Gandhi saying he is definitely one of the persons under consideration.
“We want the entire Opposition to get together and come up with a candidate who will be good for the country,” Mamata Banerjee had said after meeting Sonia Gandhi.
Some are also of the opinion that this unity of the non-NDA parties may also be a tactful plan to well in advance prepare for the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
The presidential election will be held on July 17 and the tenure of incumbent Pranab Mukherjee ends on July 24.