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Rajnath Singh speaks to Oppn leaders as BJP eyes consensus candidate

The opposition leaders asked Singh about BJP-led NDA's nominee for the presidential election
Last Updated 15 June 2022, 17:05 IST

On a day the Opposition held a meeting to deliberate on Presidential elections, the government too initiated an exercise to reach out to parties across the political spectrum with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday telephoning leaders like Sharad Pawar, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Naveen Patnaik and Nitish Kumar.

Sources said Singh has also spoken to Mayawati and Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, while BJP president J P Nadda spoke to National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah as well as leaders from National People's Party (NPP), Naga People's Front (NPF), All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and Independents.

The BJP has authorised Singh and Nadda to speak to the leaders from across the political spectrum to build a consensus for the Presidential candidate.

During Singh's calls to leaders of Congress, NCP, SP, BJD and JD(U), sources said he did not reveal the BJP's mind on the choice of candidate but instead sought their suggestions. Similar was the case with Nadda.

Opposition sources said their leaders asked Singh about the government's choice but the Defence Minister did not provide a clear answer. The Opposition leaders are learnt to have told him that without a name or their thinking on the issue, they could not take the conversation ahead.

The BJP outreach came even as Opposition parties urged Pawar to be its common candidate, which he declined. Apart from Pawar, senior leaders Kharge, Mamata and Akhilesh attended the Opposition meet.

In the electoral college for the Presidential polls, the BJP is sitting pretty even, though it is short of 2 per cent for an absolute victory. However, it is banking on the support of YSR Congress and BJD, who are not NDA allies but are friendly with the BJP.

The Opposition has also reached out to the BJD and YSR Congress. In Wednesday's meeting, which both the parties skipped despite being invited by Mamata, it was decided that the leaders should once again approach both the parties.

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(Published 15 June 2022, 15:30 IST)

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