Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, two-time MP and BR Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar, former Union Minister Kishore Chandra Deo and CPI National Secretary D Raja are the prominent names figuring in the Opposition’s list of probable candidates for President.
Leaders from the Opposition, which will meet on Thursday to decide on the candidate, indicated that “social identity” would be the key factor in deciding their nominee. The Opposition candidate will square off against the BJP’s Ram Nath Kovind in the July 17 elections.
Though the JD(U)’s abrupt announcement of support for Kovind has surprised the Opposition, they feel there is still a chance to fight the BJP on political grounds even if it is a “losing battle”.The Opposition parties also fear that the JD(U)’s exit will have an impact in Bihar too, where a grand anti-BJP alliance had defeated the BJP in 2015. “We will have to see the impact first in Bihar and then rest of the country. RJD and JD(U) are alliance partners. What will happen is a concern,” Raja said.
When asked about probable names, he said the Left parties will consult each other before Thursday’s meeting. “We want a contest,” Raja said.
The Congress leaders are also meeting on Thursday to discuss the names. A senior Congress leader told BusinessLine that the party will put no demands before other Opposition parties. “Our effort will be to get the best candidate to oppose the BJP’s candidate. The issue is not a fight against an individual. We are fighting to secure our Constitution and the top Constitutional post,” the leader added.