Representatives of opposition parties, including the Congress, will meet in New Delhi to decide on a united candidate and strategy for the presidential election. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has called a special meeting for talks with India’s top politicians ahead of the election next month.
The election will be held on July 18, six days before President Ram Nath Kovind’s term ends. Votes will be counted on July 21.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is a few thousand votes short of a majority, and hopes to rely on support from regional parties.
A Congress leader told HT last week that a united Opposition candidate was badly needed and indications are that it would be a non-Congress nominee.
She has deputed Mallikarjun Kharge to co-ordinate with other leaders in view of her ill health owing to Covid-19.
He said Congress has not suggested a particular name but they owe it to the people to elect a President who can protect the Constitution.