Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday met former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss a common candidate for the upcoming elections that elect the President of India. The Congress president is also expected to meet Bahujan Samajwadi Party leader Mayawati and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee next week in this regard.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday met former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss a common candidate for the upcoming elections that elect the President of India. The Congress president is also expected to meet Bahujan Samajwadi Party leader Mayawati and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee next week in this regard.
Sources close to the Congress President told WION that she believes that the Opposition should agree on a common name for the president, even if the numbers are stacked against them.
Earlier, Gandhi had met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav, NCP President Sharad Pawar and leaders from Kerala party Indian Union Muslim League.
Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi stressed on the need for an alternative candidate. “The BJP cannot have a walkover. Power doesn’t come in entirety and BJP needs to understand this,” she said.
Last time when the Congress was in the Opposition, Gandhi had ensured the fight for constitutional positions were well fought. In 2002, she had fielded Sushil Kumar Shinde as a vice-presidential candidate against Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Going by the numbers, the BJP has an edge over the Opposition, as it has been able to gather substantial numbers in the state legislatures. On top of it, BJP is expected to get support from ADMK, TRS, TDP, SS, SAD, PDP, Apna Dal, Mizo National Front and other regional parties. On the other hand, Congress suffered losses in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and its numbers and that of friends have dwindled in Uttar Pradesh. Nonetheless the Presidential elections would bring many regional parties who oppose the BJP together.
“A common Opposition candidate is a good idea. BJP doesn’t have absolute numbers. Why should we leave it uncontested?” asked NCP spokesperson DP Tripathi.
“If a candidate can be found on basis of a consensus then it is a good idea but I don’t see it happening. For it to fructify some talks should begin within the Opposition. The talks are at exploratory stage only,” said Pawan Verma, the spokesperson and JDU MP.
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