Division in NDA; decision on Prez choice deferred

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, June 17, 2012: The NDA meet at the residence of senior BJP leader LK Advani held on Sunday to take call on their Presidential choice failed to reach at a consensus.

“NDA leadership will speak to its Chief Ministers and other political leaders before taking a call on the issue”, said JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav after the meeting.

The meet brought out the rift within the NDA ranks over pitching a candidate for or against Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for the President’s post.

Most NDA constituents including the BJP are not in favour of walking out to Mukherjee in Presidential race as they do not want to be seen as supporting a Congress candidate, even if a loss is imminent, sources say.

The JD(U) and the SAD, however, don’t want to pitch a candidate against Mukherjee, sources said.

Earlier in the day Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee called up JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar seeking support for Mukherjee.

Ahead of the NDA meeting, the BJP core group met here to chalk out its strategy on the Presidential poll.

Key NDA constituent BJP is keen on supporting the candidature of PA Sangma. A senior BJP leader is also reported to have spoken to Sangma over his candidature. It was during the BJP core group meeting yesterday, Sangma’s name figured.

Miffed with BJP’s choice for Sangma, Shiv Sena skipped the NDA meeting today. Shiv Sena, which is in favor of bringing an opposition candidate, is strongly batting for former president APJ Abdul Kalam as a Presidential choice, though he is unlikely to enter the fray.

BJP leader Ram Jethmalani, yesterday, also jumped in the Presidential poll fray, saying he would contest for the top post if the BJP decides to back Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature.

There was earlier talks of the BJP-led NDA backing the veteran Congress man, who shares an excellent equation with opposition leaders.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday called Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, respectively, as well as senior BJP leader LK Advani to seek support for Mukherjee’s candidature.

Courtesy: NDTV