Omar meets Sonia to discuss Presidential poll nominee

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 3

The opposition parties are inching closer to a consensus on fielding a common candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections with Congress president Sonia Gandhi leading the exercise.

In the series of meetings Gandhi had with the opposition leaders, she met National Conference president Omar Abdullah at her residence this evening to deliberate on the need to put up a united opposition candidate at a time when the BJP-led NDA government is desisting from discussions on the issue with the larger political assembly.

Congress media chairman Randeep Surjewala confirmed the meeting between Sonia and Abdullah and said the onus was on the opposition to field a candidate it believes can secure the constitutional and democratic fabric of the country.

Gandhi has earlier held discussions on this issue with JDU national president and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, senior JDU MP Sharad Yadav, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Left leaders, including Sitaram Yechury of CPM and D Raja of the CPI.

Raja today told the Tribune, "There is a consensus now that the opposition must put up a candidate jointly. But we need to move beyond that matter and discuss the most acceptable candidate now. Someone has to initiate a gathering where minds can meet on the candidate also."

Raja has on the behalf of the opposition spoken to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on this matter and said the opposition would have the support of SP, BSP and DMK on this subject.

Presidential elections are due in July with the term of incumbent Pranab Mukherjee coming to an end.