The BJP has bestowed upon Rajnath Singh to reach out to the Opposition parties to build a consensus.
New Delhi: On a day the Opposition parties held a meeting to choose a presidential candidate, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly spoke to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav to build consensus amid the Opposition for the NDA-backed candidate.
The BJP has bestowed upon Rajnath Singh to reach out to the Opposition parties to build a consensus among them for the BJP-led NDA’s nominee for the Presidential polls.
According to sources, Kharge, Yadav and Banerjee have asked Rajnath Singh about their nominee but there was no word on whether he told them about their pick. It is believed that the NDA parties, headed by the BJP, are still discussing the name and will soon decide.
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On Wednesday, after request by Mamata Banerjee, the Opposition parties met at the Constitution Club in New Delhi to decide on a name for the Presidential polls. The parties reportedly requested Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to accept the nomination but he refused following which, the Opposition parties decided to meet again within a week and decide a name.
The meeting also saw a consensus among the Opposition parties to back one candidate and Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee and Sharad Pawar have been asked to arrange another meeting of the Opposition parties to finalise the name.
Speaking on the occasion, Mamata Banerjee said, “Several parties were here today (Wednesday). We have decided we will choose only one candidate. Everybody will support this candidate. We will consult with others. This is a good beginning. We sat together after several months, and we will do it again.”
During the meeting, Mallikarjun Kharge said, “I am aware that many of the parties around this table compete with each other in assembly elections. But that has not prevented this meeting from taking place. Each one of us has taken a larger national view and come here for a bigger cause. Let this spirit continue.”
