Sonia meets Yechury over Presidential poll

SOURCES SAID THAT THE TWO LEADERS DECIDED TO ASK ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES IF THEY WANT TO FIELD A CANDIDATE AGAINST THE BJPLED NDA

Efforts to field a common Opposition candidate for the Presidential election have gathered momentum, with Congress president Sonia Gandhi meeting CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

Top sources told HT that two leaders decided on Thursday night to ask all Opposition parties if they want to field a candidate against the BJP-led NDA. Gandhi called Yechury for talks on the upcoming Presidential election after meeting Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. Yechury also held a separate meeting with Kumar.

Sources added the CPI(M) chief has signalled his willingness to field an Opposition candidate and harped on the need for a “very strong secular candidates”.

Sources, however, claimed that no specific names were discussed in the Gandhi-Yechury meeting.

“The drill will be to first talk to all parties and know if they are willing to give the government a fight. If there is a consensus, then we will discuss specific names as possible candidates,” said a senior Opposition leader.

The CPI(M) central committee, in its recent meeting, had harped on the need for a “secular supervision” from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, especially in the current political scenario where the BJP is growing from strength to strength.

The BJP and even the NDA stand short of majority in the 11 lakh vote-strong electoral college of the presidential election. Both sides would be looking at the AIADMK and the BJD for their support, as these two parties are seen as kingmaker and their support may tilt equations.

Sources said the preliminary consultation with Opposition parties would be completed by next week and thereafter the Opposition may also choose to wait for the government to name its candidate.