New Delhi: Amid the lobbying that’s been on for the last two weeks for the presidential election due in July, the opposition is considering holding a meeting of all non-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) political parties to discuss the option of fielding a consensus candidate for the post.
The idea was first floated by Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar in a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi last week. Some other opposition parties are also keen to formulate a joint strategy.
“Congress will have to take the lead if such a meeting takes place. Some of the opposition leaders have been meeting chief ministers and chiefs of regional parties. A final date will be worked out after we get more clarity from other opposition parties,” a senior JD(U) leader said, requesting anonymity.
A formal meeting would replace the series of one-on-one meetings that opposition leaders have been holding of late. In the last two weeks, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Nitish Kumar have separately met Gandhi. Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has also held separate meetings with Biju Janata Dal supremo Naveen Patnaik and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.
The Congress party is, however, treading carefully on the issue. “There is a general consensus among opposition parties that we should have a contender to the candidate that the NDA puts up in the presidential polls. We have been discussing it informally but a more cohesive approach amongst opposition parties is needed and so a suggestion for a meeting has been made. We haven’t decided on it yet because we want to take careful stock of the situation,” a senior Congress leader said, requesting anonymity.
The election for the post of President is due in July, and for the vice-president in August.
The total strength of the electoral college that elects the President is 1,098,882 votes. In 2012, Pranab Mukherjee was elected after he secured 713,000 votes.
“We are willing to work with secular opposition parties to put up a consensus candidate to fight communal forces and also counter the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). The recent state assembly elections have strengthened the party and it is important to counter them. We are exploring the possibility of fielding a common candidate that is acceptable by all parties,” said a senior CPM leader, who did not wish to be named.
The CPM has also held talks with other members of the Left Front, the Nationalist Congress Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad.
Analysts say that it is important for opposition parties to make their presence felt as the outcome will depend on the majority vote in the electoral college.
“With the Uttar Pradesh elections going to the BJP, it is clear that the NDA will have a bigger leeway. Opposition parties can strategize and they may have bigger strength in the upper house, but majority in states’ strength has moved to the BJP. It is a time when the opposition needs to make its presence felt,” said Manisha Priyam, a New Delhi-based political analyst.