BJP strategists worked overtime to put Kovind in driver’s seat
National Democratic Alliance’s nominee Ramnath Kovind appears to be cruising towards a convincing victory in Monday’s presidential poll.
The ruling combine expects Kovind to win over 70% of the electoral college comprising of 4,986 voters. “We have the support of 21 chief ministers and more than 30 political parties,” BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav, who is also Kovind’s campaign manager , told HT.
NDA’s majority in the Lok Sabha and 17 states had given Kovind a head start but BJP strategists worked overtime to ensure that he is able to defeat UPA’s candidate Meira Kumar by a comfortable margin.
A team of three senior ministers – Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu – reached out to Opposition parties and NDA leaders to garner support for Kovind. The BJP received a shot in the arm when Jaitley managed to convince Bihar chief minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar to break Opposition ranks and back the NDA nominee.
“Kovind was a good choice. His conduct as Bihar governor was graceful,” JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said.
A team comprising of Union ministers Ananth Kumar, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Rajya Sabha MP Bhupendra Yadav worked out the modalities of Kovind’s nomination and campaign tour.
The BJP flaunted Kovind’s Dalit identity unapologetically, which helped it bring on board many non-NDA players. Support from the likes of Naveen Patnaik’s BJD in Odisha, both factions of Tamil Nadu-based AIADMK and Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal consolidated Kovind’s chances of emerging victorious.
Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was given the task of bringing in the support of nonNDA parties from the northeast. Six Tripura MLAs of TMC, whose chief Mamata Banerjee is backing Meira Kumar, have announced support for Kovind.
“Party whip does not apply in presidential election,” a BJP strategist said. “We expect crossvoting from Opposition camp.”
GUJARAT, KARNATAKA CONG MLAS WERE ALSO APPROACHED BY BJP LEADERS TO VOTE IN FAVOUR OF KOVIND