At a luncheon hosted by Sonia Gandhi today, opposition parties gave a call for a consensus candidate of presidential elections in the country.
Parties, including the Congress, Left parties, Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (United), and various regional parties sought to pitch for a “non- BJP” candidate for Presidential polls.
Emerging out of a meeting of 17 Opposition parties, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters, “we all want a candidate who can steadfastly uphold constitutional values”.
The 17 Opposition parties including smaller regional outfits like Indian Union of Muslim League, JMM and Kerala Congress (Mani) sought to put the onus on the ruling BJP to build a consensus and insisted that “so far it has been the normal practice and tradition that the ruling dispensation would try to create a consensus for elections to the important posts of President and Vice-President”.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, BSP President Mayawati, JD(U) leader Sharad Ydav, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, SP leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav were among those who attended the meeting.
Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who did not attend the meeting, had floated the name of President Pranab Mukherjee for the second term. However, Mr. Mukherjee has hinted that he may not accept the second term.
Later, talking to media, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said no names for upcoming presidential election were discussed at the meeting. She said if opposition parties could not agree on a unanimous candidate, a small committee could be formed to help them select a suitable nominee.
Ms Banerjee said that the parties present criticised the situation of unrest in Kashmir, and clashes in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district.