Non-BJP parties strive to unite for presidential polls: Yadav

The BJP's thumping victories in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have lent a sense of urgency to the opposition's efforts to forge unity ahead of the presidential election.

Vadodara, April 24: Former Janata Dal United president Sharad Yadav on Monday said the non-BJP parties were trying to arrive at a consensus to select a common candidate for the presidential election.

"Bringing the non-BJP parties together for putting up a common candidate for the presidential poll is not easy. But there is enough time for it as the poll is scheduled for July," he told PTI in Vadodara.

"After coming together, these parties will decide who will be their common candidate," Yadav said.

CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury had recently met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to explore the possibility of fielding a joint candidate, while RJD chief Lalu Prasad talked about cobbling together a Bihar-style 'Mahagathbandhan' grand alliance. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier called for a larger unity among the regional parties to take on the BJP.

PTI