Nitish Kumar and co are attempting to force a choice on the government by suggesting that it nominate President Pranab Mukherjee for a second term as a consensus candidate of all parties, top sources in the BJP told NDTV, stating that the opposition must respect the situation as it is on Wednesday. For the first time ever, they said, the BJP has a chance to ensure that a political person with no link to the Congress becomes President of the country and, with no offence to President Mukherjee, the ruling party would like a candidate of its choice even if it means a contest. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has the numbers to ensure its nominee wins.
But the BJP wants to field one of its own for President; a senior party leader has called it an ideological battle. The government signaled its stand when it asked Union Minister Mahesh Sharma to vacate his official residence at Delhi's 10 Rajaji Marg so that it could be readied for Mr Mukherjee to live in after his term ends in July. BJP leaders said there is no change.
The party has also asked Manohar Parrikar, who quit as Defence Minister in March to become Goa Chief Minister, not to resign from parliament before the presidential elections in July. Ditto Yogi Adityanath and Keshav Prasad Maurya, who have taken over as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
The President and Vice President are elected by members of both houses of parliament and those of state legislatures. After its mammoth win in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in March this year, the BJP, along with its allies, has about 48.5 per cent of the vote and with Mr Reddy's avowal of support needs only a few other friendly parties to help it make the 51 per cent needed.
Opposition parties have been meeting to decide on a common candidate to take on the NDA's nominee.
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