The BJP Parliamentary Board, the party’s highest decision-making body, on Monday proposed the name of current Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind as the NDA candidate for next Presidential elections due in July. The nomination papers are expected to be filed on June 23.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah attended the meet.
The Board members were believed to have been briefed about the consultation undertaken by a three-member party committee with allies and opposition parties. The committee members include Union ministers Rajnath Singh, M Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley, who are also the members of the Board.
Here are the live updates:
#4:00 PM
Opp parties are meeting on 22nd. Only once in history of independent India has the president of India been elected uncontested: S Yechury
#3:30 PM: Ghulam Nabi Azad address media:
-When BJP leaders met us they said they will inform before any announcement for a consensus, but they informed after decision
-We are not going to comment on this decision yet, nothing to say
-BJP didn't reveal the name of its candidate in the meeting
-It's not appropriate to talk about the candidate at this moment
-The next date of the meeting is 22nd June, all leaders will be present
-Sonia Gandhi had called 18 party meeting, it was decided that 3 BJP leaders will talk to the Opposition
#3:25 PM
I appeal to all political parties of UP to support son of UP, Ram Nath Kovind for president, rising above politics: UP CM Yogi Adityanath
Opposition ki baithak hogi,usme naam pe vichaar karenge,NDA ne naam announce kiya hai uspe bhi baat karenge: Sharad Yadav,JDU #RamnathKovind pic.twitter.com/NK6EdIpqut
#2:36 PM: Presidential Poll Meeting of Opposition parties to be held on June 22
#2:35 PM: Telangana CM and TRS Chief KC Rao extends support to NDA's presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind after speaking to PM Modi
#2:30 PM: PM Modi has spoken to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, AP CM Chandrababu Naidu and TN CM E Palaniswamy
#2:25 PM: Venkaiah Naidu informed LK Advani and MM Joshi before announcement of name of Ramnath Kovind as the NDA presidential candidate
#2:10 PM: The nomination will be filed on June 23: Shah
#2:10 PM: Bihar Guv Ramnath Kovind will be NDA's presidential candidate; PM Modi himself informed Cong chief Sonia Gandhi about this, Sonia Gandhi said we will discuss and inform you later: Amit Shah
#Who is Ram Nath Kovind
He was elected to Rajya Sabha from the state of Uttar Pradesh during the two terms of 1994-2000 and 2000-2006. He is an advocate by profession and practices in Delhi. He is a former President of the BJP Dalit Morcha (1998-2002) and President of the All-India Koli Samaj. He also served as national spokesperson of the party. (Read full profile here)
#11:30 AM: BJP President Amit Shah arrives at party HQ for BJP Parliamentary Board meeting scheduled to take place at 12 noon
#9:50 Am: BJP has called its MPs, MLAs to Delhi for signing of nomination papers, process of which begins today: ANI
Since past week, the party’s committee has been engaging in fierce negotiations over the name of the candidate which will most likely garner maximum support from across the board.
Also Read: Ram Nath Kovind set to become India's 2nd Dalit Prez; PM Modi says he will make exceptional President; CPI calls him RSS man
So far, LJP has extended full support to PM MOdi's choice, Shiv Sena has hinted at same, while SP has shown interest in a political candidate. Other Opposition parties have maintained a caution and have even suggested that they might float a separate candidate the next day if they don't like who BJP nominates.
(With Inputs from PTI)
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