New DelhiSome leaders have approached former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi as a possible alternative, amid calls for a united opposition in the presidential election. Sources gave this information on Tuesday. Gandhi was the unanimous opposition candidate for the post of Vice President of India in 2017, but lost to M Venkaiah Naidu in the election. Sources said some opposition leaders spoke to Gandhi over phone and urged him to consider his request to be a joint opposition candidate for the post of President.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi was the Governor of West Bengal from 2004-2009
Sources said some other names are also being considered and opposition leaders have also approached them to get their consent. Sources said Gandhi, who was the Governor of West Bengal from 2004 to 2009, has sought some time from these leaders and will contact them by Wednesday.
Leaders who spoke to him said their initial response to his request was “positive”.
Sources said if he accepts the request, he could emerge as the unanimous opposition candidate for the top post, as his name was already agreed upon in the last vice-presidential election.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi has served as the High Commissioner of India to South Africa and Sri Lanka
The 77-year-old former bureaucrat has also served as India’s High Commissioner to South Africa and Sri Lanka. He is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and C Rajagopalachari.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called a meeting of various opposition parties to consider the opposition’s choice of presidential candidate.
Presidential election 2022 to be held on July 18
Some leaders have proposed the name of NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, but the veteran leader has refused to contest the election. Elections will be held on July 18 to elect Ramnath Kovind’s successor. Kovind had defeated joint opposition candidate Meira Kumar in the last presidential election.