New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee interacts with PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti during a press conference after a meeting of opposition leaders regarding the upcoming presidential elections.
The opposition’s struggle to find a candidate to contest the upcoming presidential election eased again on Monday after former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi turned down the offer. This is the third leader who said ‘no’ to be the face for the presidential election.
The first choice of the opposition was Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar. In a meeting with the senior leader on Wednesday West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, request declined. Taking to Twitter, the NCP supremo said, “Happy to continue my service for the betterment of common man.”
In the meeting, TMC supremo Banerjee had proposed the name of former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah.
Abdullah also said that he respectfully withdraws from consideration. He said that Jammu and Kashmir needs him more. Dr Abdullah said that he has a lot of active politics ahead of him and looks forward to make a positive contribution to the service of J&K and the country.
He, however, said, “I look forward to supporting the United Opposition’s consensus candidate.”
Now, Gopalkrishna Gandhi said that many respected leaders of the opposition have given him the honor of considering him for the opposition’s candidature in the upcoming elections for the post of President.
“I am very grateful to them. But after considering the matter deeply, I see that the opposition candidate should be one who creates national consensus and national atmosphere apart from opposition unity. I think there will be others who I will do much better than that,” he said.
Major’s next meeting Opposition parties to discuss consensus candidate Voting for the presidential election is likely to be held in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The opposition meeting was attended by 17 opposition parties to reach a consensus on fielding a joint candidate against the BJP-led NDA.
The process of electing the new president had started from June 15. The last date for filing nominations is June 29. If necessary, elections will be held on July 18 and counting of votes on July 21.
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