With the Election Commission announcing July 18 as the date to conduct the presidential election, the spotlight is on YSR Congress and Biju Janata Dal as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is just short of the halfway mark. June 29 is the last date for candidates to file papers. Voting is scheduled for July 18 and counting on July 21.
While PM Modi will have the final word on deciding the presidential candidate, support from YSR Congress or BJD would pave the way for NDA’s nominee in the race for the country’s top office. Recently, YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik had met Modi in Delhi, although it is not clear what transpired during the meeting. The two regional parties have maintained a low profile; both went with BJP in backing Ramnath Kovind in 2017.
Based on the current arithmetic, NDA is around 13,000 votes short and support from either BJD, which has over 31,000 votes in the electoral college, or YSR Congress (over 43,000 votes) will ensure smooth sailing for the BJP-led alliance. NDA is estimated to have 526,000 votes out of a possible 10,79,000 in the electoral college, comprising elected members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and the state legislatures.
The NDA has the option to renominate Kovind, field vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu, who is seen as a potential candidate orspring a surprise. Although BJP’s numbers have significantly increased in the Lok Sabha, its changed equations with the regional parties and reduced strength in several state assemblies have led to its reliance on regional parties such as YSR Congress and BJD.
The party has severed ties with Shiv Sena, and Akali Dal, while AIADMK members occupy fewer benches in the Tamil Nadu assembly.
The saffron party won the Uttar Pradesh polls this year, but its numbers have reduced. Besides, it has suffered losses in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and also in Madhya Pradesh compared to the numbers it had in the 2017 presidential polls.
But the NDA seems to have an edge, especially because the opposition is yet to come to a common ground on a candidate, who could be acareer politician or a distinguished personality. There has been a tug-of-war among the opposition parties with regional parties such as TMC, TRS and AAP insisting on a non-Congress joint front against BJP.
Not in race, clarifies Pawar
Amid moves to forge consensus for an opposition-backed candidate, NCP chief Sharad Pawar quietly nipped in the bud a proposal to prop him up as a contender. “I am not in the race, I will not be opposition candidate for the President’s post,’’ the 81-year-old said.
Pawar’s statement ruling out his presence in the contest came a day after the Maharashtra Congress unit expressed support for his candidature. An NCP leader said Pawar made it clear he will not be the candidate but will enable a dialogue among opposition parties to ensure unity on the issue. “The general feeling was the opposition will put up a consensus candidate despite lack of adequate numbers. West Bengla chief minister Mamata Banerjee has called a meeting in Delhi to discuss the common opposition candidate and its strategy.
BJP deputes Nadda, Rajnath
BJP has authorised party preisdent JP Nadda and Union minister Rajnath Singh to hold consultations on the President’s election with different political parties, including those in the opposition, to forge a consensus on the choice for the top constitutional post. The move to reach out to opposition parties comes on the heels of parallel moves by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee to finalise a joint opposition candidate for the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
