Next President of India: No names discussed in opposition meet, says Congress

A crucial meeting of opposition parties for Presidential elections was held in the Parliament on Wednesday. While the meeting was convened to decide on the common opposition candidate for the July 17 elections, the Congress maintained that no names were discussed.

"Today was the first official meeting. No names were discussed during the meeting. We are united and will meet again on deciding on our Presidential poll candidate. The process has just begun. A sub-committee meeting will be held where further discussions will take place," said Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Headed by the Congress, the meeting saw leaders of TMC, RJD, JD(U), Left parties in attendance. Close to 17 opposition parties including regional parties were invited to take part in the discussion on the next President of India.

The meeting came on the day the BJP decided to meet Sonia Gandhi to discuss the possibilities of unanimously electing the President of India. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu are expected to meet with Sonia Gandhi on Friday.

While the BJP-led NDA has formed a panel to decide on a candidate, opposition parties are yet to arrive at a consensus. A luncheon hosted by Sonia Gandhi earlier in May saw leaders of Left parties, TMC, DMK, RJD and JD(U) come together. All leaders present in the meeting had claimed that they would not field a candidate if the government suggested a candidate who could be elected unanimously.

The election to the post of President would be held on July 17. The votes would be counted on July 20.

OneIndia News