Left likely to push for Gandhi grandson in presidential poll
Former diplomat Gopal Krishna Gandhi could be the potential opposition candidate for the July 17 presidential election with Left parties pushing for Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson for the country’s highest post, multiple sources told Hindustan Times on Wednesday.
The government, however, is trying to build consensus for its own candidate and two Union ministers, Rajnath Singh and M Venkaiah Naidu, are expected to meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday, BJP sources said. They will hold a separate meeting with CPM leader Sitaram Yechury.
India’s presidential election involves a complex voting pattern involving all parliamentarians and state legislators.
The NDA needs around 20,000 more votes to ensure victory of its candidate and reaching out to the opposition is seen as an exercise to test if there could be a consensus and ensure a greater margin of victory.
The YSR Cong has already pledged support to the NDA and that not only fills the gap, but also gives the ruling side a majority.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the US later this month for his first meeting with President Donald Trump and expectations, at least on the Indian side, are modest.
No big-bang announcements are on the cards during the visit being seen as an opportunity for the two leaders to unveil their vision of the bilateral relationship that has grown steadily over the last 20 years.
Modi will be in the US on June 25 and 26 before he goes to Israel.
Sources said the meeting between Modi and Trump will mainly be about the two leaders getting to know each other and build a personal rapport.
The talks, to be held at the White House, are expected to focus on familiar issues: Terrorism, economic cooperation, greater salience on Indo-Pacific and stepping up defence ties. There are some concerns, too. New Delhi would want clarity from the Trump administration on the H-1B visa.
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