No names were discussed when senior BJP leaders M. Venkaiah Naidu and Rajnath Singh met Congress president Sonia Gandhi last week, the Congress leader said. We would have certainly thought about such a person, but they did not suggest any name.
They said the two-member BJP team, which met Congress President and other leaders, explained to them that the twin objectives of the consultation process was to have the benefit of views and suggestions of various parties in the matter and to seek their support.
The meeting comes barely two days after a sub-group of Opposition leaders constituted by Gandhi met in Azad's Parliament chamber to discuss the Opposition strategy.
According to the sources, former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, ex-Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde; Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader and grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, Prakash Yashwant, and retired diplomat Gopal Krishna Gandhi are some of the names the opposition parties are considering. "But unless they give a name there can't be any question of consensus or cooperation", Kharge added.
Parkash Singh Badal: The former chief minister of the Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, had though denied reports of him in presidential race given his age; however, his name is also discussed for the post.
Mr Naidu and Mr Singh are also likely to meet CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury later today.
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On his part, the soft-spoken Kovind said he would appeal to all political parties and members of the electoral college to back him.
When asked why the names of Sushma Swaraj or Sumitra Mahajan were not considered, party leaders remain mum but refuse to acknowledge that Kovind's Dalit credentials are the only reason why he was chosen.
However, the chances of a consensus candidate being chosen will brighten only if the BJP refuses to abide by the wish reportedly conveyed by its mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), that the party must utilise the advantage of a majority in the electoral college to choose a person who is a Hindutva ideologue. "And the BJP hopes there will be unanimity among all parties on his candidature". Can they afford to oppose the candidature of a Dalit candidate?
Naidu on Thursday spoke to NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu over the same. He joined a stir by SC/ST employees in 1997 when dalits and others protested against the orders issued by the Centre, which were rescinded by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when the NDA came to power. "We want to make it a Gandhi vs Saffron contest", says a Left MP.
The RSS has apparently given the BJP three choices for its candidate as President.
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