Congress is pushing for a joint opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. The party has conveyed its support to Sharad Pawar to its allies where ever the party is in the government. On those lines, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met senior NCP leader on Tuesday to convince him to be the joint opposition nominee for the presidential elections next month.
The meeting comes a day before the crucial opposition meeting. The Congress is in full support if Sharad Pawar throws his hat in the ring while Mamata Banerjee has called a meeting of the opposition parties on June 15. On the same day, Pawar will be meeting leaders of like minded parties.
But Pawar expressed his disinterest in contesting for India's top post. Pawar, a stalwart in the opposition rank, can upset the equation of the ruling party which is hoping to get support of other smaller parties.
Joint opposition candidate for President
Last Thursday, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge met Sharad Pawar on behalf of party chief Sonia Gandhi. The two leaders met in Mumbai. Sonia Gandhi had also reached out to the NCP chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other opposition leaders over the upcoming Presidential election.
"Congress President Sonia Gandhi had reached out and deliberated the issue of the upcoming Presidential election with Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee and some other opposition leaders," said a statement from the Congress.
"As per her discussions with other opposition leaders, she deputed the LoP Mallikarjun Kharge to co-ordinate with other leaders in view of her ill health owing to Covid-19," the statement added.
The statement also said that Congress is of the opinion that the country needs a President who can protect the Constitution, democratic institutions and citizens from the ongoing onslaught by the ruling BJP. While the party has not suggested a particular name for the presidential polls, it said it owes it to people to elect a President who can apply a 'healing touch' to India's "fractured social fabric".
"The time is ripe to rise above our differences for the sake of our nation and its people. Discussions and deliberations have to be open-minded and in keeping with this spirit. We believe that Indian National Congress along with other parties should be taking this discussion forward," said the party in the statement.
The BJP on the other hand has authorized its party chief J.P. Nadda and Union Minister Rajnath Singh to hold discussions with different political parties and bring them towards a consensus.
