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| BJP Picks Bihar Governor Ram Nath |
| BJP Picks Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind For President, Opposition Weakened: 10 Facts
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| INDIA
, 19-June-2017
8:52:15 AM |
| The BJP has picked Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit, for President of India. The announcement was made after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Amit Shah and other top leaders of his party. PM Modi, who on Twitter said the Governor would make "an exceptional President", has personally talked to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh to seek their support for the BJP's nominee. They and other opposition leaders like Mamata Banerjee said they will decide whether to back the BJP's choice after they meet on Thursday. "It's a duty, let's take it as such," Governor Kovind told NDTV today as he took off from Patna for Delhi.
Governor Kovind, 71, has served twice as a Rajya Sabha member, and is a trained lawyer. He will travel to Delhi from Patna this evening.
The selection of a Dalit leader for President is a move by the BJP to consolidate its growing support among backward castes and poorer voters. If elected, Governor Kovind will be India's second Dalit president after KR Narayanan, who served from 1997 to 2002.
The opposition has said that despite the BJP talking of wanting a "consensus candidate", it sought no input on Governor Kovind's candidature. Opposition leaders will meet on Thursday to decide whether they will field their own candidate.
"Now that they have made the decision unilaterally, there is no more scope for discussion with them," said Left leader Sitaram Yechury, complaining that at conferrals last week, the BJP mentioned no names including that of Governor Kovind.
The complaint on not being consulted was duplicated by the BJP's permanently disgruntled ally, the Shiv Sena, which said it learnt through the media of the nomination for President. The Sena will announce tonight whether it will back the BJP, party leaders said.
Several opposition leaders are alrea
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