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Sonia's luncheon meet to discuss prez candidate

Gowda to back Opposition nominee
Last Updated 25 May 2017, 20:39 IST

The presidential race is hotting up with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi hosting a lunch for Opposition leaders on Friday to explore ways to puncture the NDA’s unity.

The BJP also rolled out its process of consultations with NDA partners. Party president Amit Shah discussed the issue with TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Congress’ arch-rival and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy will attend the luncheon in the dining hall of Parliament Library Building.

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, who was also invited, has expressed his inability to attend the luncheon but promised to send a representative. Gowda announced his support for the joint Opposition nominee.

No revelations yet

Neither the NDA nor the Opposition has revealed its choice for the President’s post. But names of former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar,  Sharad Yadav and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar are doing the rounds to be the joint Opposition candidate.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu and Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao were being talked about as possible candidates from the government’s side.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had pitched for a second term for President Pranab Mukherjee, which has been ruled out by the incumbent. “I have exactly two months to go. On July 25, a new President will assume office,” Mukherjee said at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday.

Mamata meets PM

A day ahead of Sonia’s luncheon, Mamata met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “discuss issues related to the development of the state”. However, the buzz in political circles was that she wanted to convey her displeasure over the growing bonhomie between the Congress and the CPM in West Bengal.

The NDA on its own has 48.51% of votes in the electoral college of 10.98 lakh
votes.

Members of both Houses of Parliament and members of legislative assemblies are eligible to cast their vote in the Presidential election. Regional parties such as the TRS and the YSR Congress have already declared their support to the Modi government, which was also expecting support from the AIADMK and the BJD.

“We are looking at a broad-based opposition unity,” a senior Congress leader said adding it was also watching regional rivals BJD in Odisha and TRS in Telangana.

The BJP’s aggressive moves to expand its foot print has unnerved BJD and TRS leadership, but they are still undecided on whether to make common cause with the Congress.

According to the rules, Election Commission can issue a notification for the Presidential election any time after May 25, which is two months before the end of the tenure of the incumbent.
 In 2012, the presidential elections were announced on June 12.

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(Published 25 May 2017, 20:36 IST)

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