Opposition meets to decide Prez Poll strategy

Opposition meets to decide Prez Poll strategy

Forging a common stance on the upcoming presidential polls, a united opposition including Congress and some arch rivals on Friday decided to field its candidate if the NDA government fails to come up with an “acceptable consensual” nominee.

Opposition meets to decide Prez Poll strategy

Leaders of 17 parties came together at a luncheon hosted by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on a day when the Modi government celebrated its third anniversary.

Opposition meets to decide Prez Poll strategy

“NDA had failed on all fronts. Its only achievement is that it has set the Pakistan flag fluttering in Kashmir for the first time after independence,” RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said.

Opposition meets to decide Prez Poll strategy

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in case a consensus candidate does not come up, a small committee of opposition leaders will be formed to select a suitable presidential candidate who is “good and secular”.

Opposition meets to decide Prez Poll strategy

Apart from Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the Congress was represented by former prime minister Manmohan Singh and leaders Ahmed Patel, A K Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad besides Mallikarjun Kharge.

Opposition meets to decide Prez Poll strategy

The JD-U was represented there by Sharad Yadav and K C Tyagi, besides RJD’s Prem Chand Gupta.