Presidential polls: Mamata suggests names of Farooq, Gopalkrishna Gandhi at Oppn meeting

Leaders of several Opposition parties on Wednesday agreed to field a common candidate against the NDA in the forthcoming Presidential elections.

Mamata Banerjee had invited 22 parties but 16 attended the meeting. They decided on a 21 June deadline for naming a presidential candidate versus the nominee of the BJP and its allies.

“Several parties were here today. We have decided we will choose only one consensus candidate. Everybody will give this candidate our support,” Mamata said to reporters.

“We will consult with others. This is a good beginning. We sat together after several months, and we will do it again,” said the TMC chief.

At the meeting, opposition leaders urged NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to be the joint opposition candidate for the election. However, he once again declined the offer.

In a tweet, Sharad Pawar said, “I sincerely appreciate the leaders of opposition parties for suggesting my name as a candidate for the election of the President of India, at the meeting held in Delhi. However, I like to state that I have humbly declined the proposal of my candidature.” 

RSP’s NK Premchandran told the PTI news agency that Banerjee also suggested the names of Farooq Abdullah and Gopalkrishna Gandhi as possible opposition candidates.

Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge will consult with various parties to build consensus on a name.