As the Election Commission issues the notification for Presidential elections on Wednesday, both the ruling and Opposition camps have started deliberations on the preparations for elections.
While the Opposition parties feel that the BJP has failed to reach out to them despite the electoral process being on, the BJP said it will soon hold discussions with other parties on the possibilities of arriving at a broad consensus.
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, who is a member of the BJP’s panel to hold discussions with other parties, said the internal discussions within the party are on.
“We have started internal consultations. We are the ruling party and we have to take everyone on board and work towards evolving a broad consensus (for a presidential nominee) and seek their support,” Naidu said.
He added that the exercise will be done in the “true spirit of democracy”, and appealed to all that they should go by the mandate of the people, which is for this government.
Meanwhile, the 10-member core committee of 17 Opposition parties will hold a meeting here on Wednesday. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who is also a member of the 10-member panel, said the opinion of the Left is that the Opposition should put up a candidate.
“The Centre has delayed the consultations. Our opinion is that the Opposition should field a candidate,” he told BusinessLine. The Left had fielded Captain Lakshmi Sahgal against former president APJ Abdul Kalam in 2002, though all the other parties supported Kalam for the post.