Congress to decide presidential candidate after consultations

President Pranab Mukherjee's term comes end on July 25, 2017.

New Delhi, April 21: The Congress on Friday said that it will decide upon a presidential candidate after consulting its allies and all other opposition parties.

"Congress will decide upon a presidential candidate after consulting and taking into confidence all its allies as also all other opposition parties. When that stage arrives, we will be very happy to inform the media. So far, that stage has not arisen. So, the question of individual's name does not arise as yet," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala at a media briefing.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi and the working committee, after consultation with all leaders of the opposition parties, will take a conscious, concerted and balanced call on the issue," he added.

"As soon as it is decided, we will be very happy to share," he added.

On another question of Congress president meeting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Surjewala said: "Nitish Kumar met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi when he visited Bihar and met up with Congress President Sonia Gandhi when he was in Delhi yesterday. It was a regular courtesy call between two allies. To convert it into any other discussion perhaps would be unwarranted."

BJP has nearly 48 percent votes for the presidential election and can cross the half way mark with the support of allies like AIADMK and TRS.

IANS