New Delhi: Former LokSabha Speaker Meira Kumar will be the opposition candidate for Presidential elections against NDA's Ram Nath Kovind. Announcement in this regard was made by Congress President Sonia Gandhi after the meeting of opposition parties in New Delhi on Thursday evening. She appealed to all opposition parties to support Meira Kumar. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told media that all the 17 opposition parties unanimously decided to field Meira Kumar.
A five-time MP, Kumar is a former IFS Officer and daughter of Congress veteran BabuJagjivan Ram. The meeting was attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, SitaramYechury of CPI(M), RJD Chief LaluPrasad, SharadPawar of NCP, SP leader RamgopalYadav, BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK leader Kanimozhi among others.
Even though the NDA has edge over the opposition in the presidential elections, the decision to pit Meira Kumar against Ram NathKovind has made the election a certainty and an interesting political battle. The opposition led by Congress seems to have been forced to field a candidate from Dalit community following NDA's decision to name Kovind who also hails from same community.
Political observers say the candidature of Dalit leaders by both the ruling and the opposition parties indicates that the two sides are vying to widen their support base among the community. However, Congress' attempt to bring all opposition groups on one platform has misfired with JD(U) deciding to support the NDA nominee. On the other hand, RJD's support to Meira Kumar may create ripples in the RJD-JD(U)-Congress coalition in Bihar.
RJD Chief Lalu Prasad has appealed to JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to reconsider his party's decision to support the NDA nominee in Presidential elections.Talking to reporters after opposition parties' decision to field Meira Kumar, Prasad said, JD(U) has made a mistake and he will meet Kumar to persuade him. He said, the RJD will not break the alliance in Bihar and there is no threat to the Nitish Kumar government.
Meanwhile, JD(U) has ruled out any rethink over its decision to support NDA nominee Ram NathKovind in Presidential election. Talking to media, party spokesman, KC Tyagisaid,the party has announced its support to Kovind after taking everything into consideration. He said, political decisions are not changed in minutes.
Meanwhile, BSP has decided to support Meira Kumar in this election. Party leader Satish Chandra Mishra said, BSP Chief Mayawati has given her consent to Kumar's name.
BJP, on the other hand, expressed confidence that NDA's nominee Ram NathKovind will emerge victorious in the Presidential election as some opposition parties have already announced their support for him. Reacting to opposition decision to field Meira Kumar, party spokesperson NalinKohli said, it would be wrong to say that she is a joint candidate of all the opposition as JD(U) and BJD have already extended their support to Kovind. He said, opposition's decision is merely an anti-BJP strategy.