Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday congratulated senior TMC leader and national vice president Yashwant Sinha for being anonymously chosen as the candidate of the opposition for the Presidential election.
Taking to Twitter, Mamata said, “I would like to congratulate Shri @YashwantSinha on becoming the consensus candidate, supported by all progressive opposition parties, for the upcoming Presidential Election. A man of great honour and acumen, who would surely uphold the values that represent our great nation!”
TMC national secretary Abhishek Banerjee who was in the meeting with 18 opposition parties at the national capital said that if a person like Sinha becomes the President then it will be ‘good’ for the country.
“The BJP is utilizing the agencies according to their own whims. We always needed someone who will protect the constitution. It is a good decision taken anonymously by all the opposition leaders,” said the TMC national secretary.
Later, taking to Twitter, Abhishek said, “Heartiest congratulations to @YashwantSinha ji for being chosen as the joint Opposition candidate for the upcoming Presidential Elections.It is my firm belief that for all progressive parties who share the same vision for our nation, there could not have been a better choice!”
According to sources, Sinha is likely to submit his nomination on June 27.
Earlier this day, Sinha taking to social media said that he is going to step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity.
“I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step, read Sinha’s tweet.
Sinha who was the former Union Minister of Finance and External Affairs left BJP in 2018 and joined TMC in 2021.
Sinha’s name came up in the race after NCP chief Sharad Pawar, former Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah had declined the offer.
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