Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states were all present during Murmu’s filing of nomination papers…reports Asian Lite News
The Opposition’s presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha will file his nomination papers for the July 18 poll on Monday.
Sinha is likely to be accompanied by leaders of the opposition parties for filing of the nomination.
Meanwhile, the TRS announced its support to Sinha. Sources said that TRS floor leader Nama Nageswara Rao and other Members of Parliament will be present during Sinha’s nomination. Sinha will then pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B.R Ambedkar.
He will also begin his campaign to meet MPs and MLAs. On Friday, Sinha had telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s offices seeking their support for the poll. He also wrote a letter to all the leaders of the opposition parties.
In the letter Sinha wrote: “India is going through extremely difficult times. I shall raise my voice for the common people.”
Sinha had also said that the leaders of the other ideology are intent on throttling the Constitution and “making a mockery of the people’s mandate in elections.”
On his nomination as joint opposition candidate, Sinha had tweeted: “Thanking them for choosing me as their common candidate for the Presidential Election 2022. I am truly honoured. Defending the Constitution is our solemn promise, pledge and commitment.”
BJP-led NDA candidate Droupdai Murmu had filed nomination last week in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief J.P. Nadda, union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and leaders of alliance partners.
Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states were all present during Murmu’s filing of nomination papers.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the Opposition parties will be meeting on Monday in Parliament. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar who is firefighting the Maharashtra crisis has landed in Delhi for the meet. The opposition has been put to test since the NDA announced its candidate.
The big question is who all from the opposition will be present in Monday’s meeting as Congress MLAs and MP are busy signing the nomination papers. Sinha will address a press conference on Monday at 4 p.m. and will then begin his campaign.
Sinha on Wednesday had said that the Constitution is being throttled.
“If elected,” he said, “I shall not allow the independence and integrity of democratic institutions to be weaponised against political opponents, as is happening now.”
“The ongoing attacks on the federal structure of the Constitution, whereby the government is attempting to rob the state governments of their legitimate rights and powers, will be treated as totally unacceptable. I shall also use the authority of my office to check the menacing power of ill-gotten money that is killing the soul of Indian democracy and making a mockery of people’s mandate in elections,” Sinha told media here.
A dozen-odd opposition parties declared Sinha as their candidate on Tuesday, the same day the BJP declared Draupadi Murmu as its candidate for the post of the President, elections for which are due on July 18.
BSP Supremo Mayawati has already announced support to the NDA nominee while YSRCP and the BJD are on board from day one and the crisis in Maharashtra has put the NDA in a comfortable position in the contest while other political parties may come in support of Murmu. She has already spoken to JMM leader Hemant Soren.
The development comes after JDS leader H.D. Deve Gowda praised the NDA candidate and termed her “suitable” and “non-controversial”.