Will consult opposition before picking prez candidate: Shah

NEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday said his party would consult opposition parties, which have been working to forge unity over a joint presidential candidate, before deciding on the ruling alliance’s pick for the top constitutional post.

“We have not decided on any name yet. We will first talk to our NDA allies. Then we will talk to opposition parties,” he said.

“Consensus is a word that it is used in several ways. But we will hold discussions with everybody, including opposition parties,” he added. Parties like the Congress, TMC, and the Left have spoken about fielding a “secular” opposition candidate if the NDA picks a nominee with Hindutva leanings.

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Meanwhile Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu attacked the “opportunistic” coming together of opposition parties saying Only corrupt, communal and casteist people are upset with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Naidu told reporters here that the “unprincipled” alliance will not last long for want of an ideology and an “able and stable” leadership.

The information and broadcasting minister also hit out at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over his visit to Saharanpur and termed it as “just another photo opportunity” for the latter.