Sonia Gandhi takes the lead to put up united opposition candidate for President poll

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday met former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss a common candidate for the upcoming elections that elect the President of India. The Congress president is also expected to meet Bahujan Samajwadi Party leader Mayawati and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee next week in this regard.

Sources close to the Congress President told WION that she believes that the Opposition should agree on a common name for the president, even if the numbers are stacked against them.

Earlier, Gandhi had met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav, NCP President Sharad Pawar and leaders from Kerala party Indian Union Muslim League.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi stressed on the need for an alternative candidate. “The BJP cannot have a walkover. Power doesn’t come in entirety and BJP needs to understand this,” she said.

Last time when the Congress was in the Opposition, Gandhi had ensured the fight for constitutional positions were well fought. In 2002, she had fielded Sushil Kumar Shinde as a vice-presidential candidate against Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Going by the numbers, the BJP has an edge over the Opposition, as it has been able to gather substantial numbers in the …read more