Presidential Poll 2017: Venkaiah Naidu files 4th set of nomination papers for Ram Nath Kovind

Union minister Venkaiah Naidu filed the fourth set of nomination papers on Wednesday on behalf of NDA presidential candidate and former Bihar governor, Ram Nath Kovind.

While Naidu was the proposer, YSR Congress Party's Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy seconded Kovind's fourth set of nomination papers. Union minister Ananth Kumar was also present on the occasion.

Kovind had earlier filed three sets of nomination papers on June 23.

On the other hand, opposition presidential candidate Meira Kumar too filed her nomination in the presence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and various opposition leaders.

ALSO READ: Presidential poll 2017: Meira Kumar files her nomination in presence of Sonia Gandhi, other Opposition leaders

With over 62 per cent of the votes firmly behind him, Kovind’s election as the next president is almost certain.  Besides the BJP and its NDA allies, the TRS, YSRCP, AIADMK, BJD and the JD(U) have also announced their support to him.

The presidential election is scheduled for July 17 and the counting of votes will take place on July 20. If elected Kovind will be the second Dalit President after K.R. Narayanan.

READ: Kovind BJP legislators’ blessings before embarking on pan-India tour