Jun 19, 2017 06:14 PM IST | Source: Moneycontrol.com
Presidential Election: NDA's candidate is Ram Nath Kovind, UPA to decide pick this week
Live updates as the ruling NDA announces Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind as its candidate for the Presidential elections.
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highlights
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati is speaking now. Says she is not satisfied with Ram Nath Kovind's political ideology, but cannot reject his Dalit background. Adds that she will wait and watch if UPA announces a Dalit candidate as well.
CNN-News18, quoting sources, says the UPA will put up its own candidate after meeting Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee on Thursday.
Azad says UPA will hold a meeting on Thursday to take a final decision on its presidential candidate.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is now addressing a press conference. He says the party won't comment on the NDA's presidential candidate.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari says the party will now sit down and discuss whether it will support Kovind or name its own candidate.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
- NDA has declared Ram Nath Kovind as its Presidential candidate
- Kovind is Bihar's Governor, a Dalit leader and an experienced parliamentarian
- NDA ally Shiv Sena is undecided on backing Kovind
- West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will not support the NDA's candidate
- Congress-led UPA will put up its own candidate later this week
An electoral college will vote for the President. Here's the current position, with NDA just short of the halfway mark:
Kovind is reportedly on his way to Delhi now to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Wondering what the political reaction to the NDA's pick has been? Here's a round-up.
By mentioning ideology, Mayawati was possibly taking a dig at Kovind's RSS background.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati is speaking now. Says she is not satisfied with Ram Nath Kovind's political ideology, but cannot reject his Dalit background. Adds that she will wait and watch if UPA announces a Dalit candidate as well.
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury says only once in the history of Independent India has the President of India been elected uncontested. Is that a hint that there will definitely be an Opposition candidate?
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is believed to have congratulated his state's Governor Ram Nath Kovind on being chosen as the NDA's candidate. However, it is unclear whether the Janata Dal (United) leader will lend his support to Kovind.
CNN-News18, quoting sources, says the UPA will put up its own candidate after meeting Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee on Thursday.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appeals to all parties to support "son of UP" Kovind.
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury says his party will take a call after a meeting of Opposition parties on Thursday.
Here's more on what Mamata Banerjee had to say: "In order to support someone, we must know the person. Who is this candidate?"
Azad says UPA will hold a meeting on Thursday to take a final decision on its presidential candidate.
Azad says UPA will hold a meeting in the coming days to take a final decision on its presidential candidate.
Congress says it has 'nothing to say' but Azad says the UPA expected that the NDA would speak to them before announcing its candidate.
Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says she opposes Ram Nath Kovind's candidature.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is now addressing a press conference. He says the party won't comment on the NDA's presidential candidate.
Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Aggarwal says his party is still undecided and will consult the UPA.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu says his Telegu Desam Party will put its weight behind Kovind. As does food minister and Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan
Both the TDP and the LJP are NDA allies.
BJP President Amit Shah tweets that he believes that all political parties will come forward and support the NDA's candidate for the President's office.
NCP leader Majeed Memon says the party will evaluate whether Kovind fits the profile of someone with "constitutional and secular values".
CPI leader D Raja says the opposition parties will now sit down and decide their next step.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says the party has yet to decide on supporting Ram Nath Kovind for President. The NDA ally says it wanted either RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat or agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan to be nominated for the post.
CNN-News18 reporting that Kovind is now on a flight to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.