<p>BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said his party will consult the Opposition, which has been working to forge unity for a joint presidential candidate, before deciding on the ruling alliance’s pick for the top constitutional post.<br /><br />He, however, parried a query on whether the BJP will seek to build a consensus with the Opposition.<br /><br />“Consensus is a word that it is used in several ways. But we will hold discussions with everybody, including the Opposition parties,” Shah said during an interaction.<br /><br />Parties like the Congress and Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, as well as the Left parties, have spoken about fielding a “secular” Opposition candidate if the BJP-led NDA picks a nominee with Hindutva leanings.<br /><br />Not perturbed<br /><br />However, the ruling block is unlikely to be perturbed by the stand of the Opposition as the numbers in the electoral college favour it.<br /><br />Shah declined to speak about the likely names from the NDA for the President’s post, claiming they have not decided on anyone yet. He said the government will talk with its allies before talking to the Opposition. The electoral college for the presidential election has a total of 11,04,546 votes, with the NDA’s tally currently standing at about 5.38 lakh votes.</p>
<p>BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said his party will consult the Opposition, which has been working to forge unity for a joint presidential candidate, before deciding on the ruling alliance’s pick for the top constitutional post.<br /><br />He, however, parried a query on whether the BJP will seek to build a consensus with the Opposition.<br /><br />“Consensus is a word that it is used in several ways. But we will hold discussions with everybody, including the Opposition parties,” Shah said during an interaction.<br /><br />Parties like the Congress and Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, as well as the Left parties, have spoken about fielding a “secular” Opposition candidate if the BJP-led NDA picks a nominee with Hindutva leanings.<br /><br />Not perturbed<br /><br />However, the ruling block is unlikely to be perturbed by the stand of the Opposition as the numbers in the electoral college favour it.<br /><br />Shah declined to speak about the likely names from the NDA for the President’s post, claiming they have not decided on anyone yet. He said the government will talk with its allies before talking to the Opposition. The electoral college for the presidential election has a total of 11,04,546 votes, with the NDA’s tally currently standing at about 5.38 lakh votes.</p>