BJP Did Not Specify Any Name: Ghulam Nabi Azad on Prez Nominee

Speaking after the BJP met the Congress over the possibility of a consensual candidate, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the BJP delegation did not specify any name, and instead tried asking the Congress for their nominee.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday, to decide on the possibility of a consensual presidential candidate. Their meeting lasted 30 minutes.

Singh and Naidu, along with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, comprise the BJP’s presidential polls panel.

Both Singh and Naidu had earlier in the week met leaders from the Bahujan Samaj Party and the NCP, reported Indian Express.

Meanwhile, the Congress has denied reports of supporting RSS honcho Mohan Bhagwat’s name as the presidential nominee. Speaking to ANI, senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge said:

We are a secular party. We will never support Mohan Bhagwat, neither will the other parties. His name is being recommended by the Shiv Sena. We don’t know what their connection is with the BJP. However, we will choose a candidate from a secular party.

Incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee’s term comes to an end on 24 July. The presidential polls are slated to be held on 17 July.

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