Parties to hold a meet for RS candidate

“As far as we know, TDP (Telugu Desam Party) and TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi), too, would not support any Congress candidate.” The leader even went to the extent of suggesting that if the Congress calls a meeting of the Opposition parties, some regional parties may not even participate.

The CPM, which has three votes, will not support a Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate. The Congress leadership has communicated to regional parties that it is willing to give away its claim to the post, but the decision to back a candidate from a regional party will depend on the names that are proposed.

It is in the backdrop of such complexities that the Opposition meeting in July will try to find a consensus candidate.

Last year, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi had called a meeting of Opposition parties to pick candidates for the Presidential and Vice Presidential elections. The Opposition’s efforts to project a united candidate for the Presidential election suffered a major blow as Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar dumped the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress and formed a coalition government in the state with the BJP.

This time around, leaders of the Opposition are treading cautiously to avoid any further rift in their camp.

TMC’S leadership has indicated that it might suggest senior MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray’s name for the post. No names have been communicated to other parties so far.