‘There are other big Dalit leaders in India’: Mamata Banerjee on BJP’s choice for President
- BJP has announced 71-year-old Ram Nath Kovind as their candidate for the President of India
- Many parties have openly supported the candidature while some have chosen to reveal their support on June 22
- The Opposition is set to announce their candidate for the Presidential polls on June 22
FollowBharatiya Janata Party king maker Amit Shah, on Monday, announced the candidature of Ram Nath Kovind as a nominee for the President of India. The 71-year-old low profile Dalit leader, a two-term BJP Rajya Sabha member, is seen as an astute choice by the saffron party, which has been targeted by opposition parties over Dalit issues, and his election is almost a certainty as the ruling bloc with the support of some regional parties enjoys a majority in the electoral college.
Hearing the candidature, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was opposed to Ram Nath Kovind's candidature. In fact, she was surprised at his name being mentioned. She is quoted to have said, “There are other big Dalit leaders in India. Ram Nath Kovind was leader of Dalit Morcha of BJP, so they have made him candidate.”
The West Bengal CM has said that June 22 will be the day when she will announce her decision. Rumours are abound that Congress is looking at Mahatma Gandhi 's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi as their candidate for President of India.
Also read: Gopalkrishna Gandhi is Congress' Presidential choice: Reports
Also read: Eight facts to know about NDA's Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind
Meanwhile, the BJP already has support pouring in from many parties. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu says his Telegu Desam Party will put its weight behind Kovind. Neighbouring state Telangana also have put their weight behind the BJP nominee.
According to a report in PTI, a statement from the office of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, was released after the announcement. It read that after announcing the candidature of Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Rao over phone and requested his support for the NDA's candidate.
"The prime minister told the chief minister over phone, as per your (KCR's) suggestion we have decided upon a Dalit candidate for the presidential post," it said. The chief minister immediately consulted his party colleagues and conveyed to the prime minister the TRS's "willingness and his willingness" to support the NDA candidate.
Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan says that it will support the NDA nominee. Parties like the Shiv Sena, JDU have chosen to take time to discuss the candidature.
Kovind is likely to file his papers on June 23, BJP president Amit Shah said after a nearly two-hour meeting of the BJP parliamentary board.
