New Delhi: Hours after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) declared Ram Nath Kovind's name as its Presidential candidate on Monday, he said he will talk to leaders of all the major political parties and seek their support to emerge as a 'consensus candidate' for the top post.
Kovind met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah on Monday evening after he touched down in Delhi from Patna.
Kovind then drove down to Shah's residence where he was greeted by senior BJP leaders. He stayed at the BJP chief's residence for nearly an hour where both are believed to have discussed the formalities related to the presidential poll.
He said he was a "small citizen" entrusted with a big responsibility.
"All those who are members of the electoral college...I will meet leaders of major political parties and seek their support...I hope that every citizen will support me," he said.
Later, Kovind briefly visited the Bihar Niwas where he declined to answer any question from the media and only said, "I thank everyone."
Non-NDA parties like BJD, TRS and YSRCP have announced their support to the Dalit leader. Kovind is likely to file= his nomination on June 23.
If elected, which appears to be a certainty, the 71-year-old former lawyer would be only the second Dalit to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan after K R Narayanan.
While the NDA's Presidential nominee said he will talk to all the major political parties, the Opposition was caught off guard when the announcement came.
Sources say the Congress will put up a candidate against Kovind, though the name will be finalised only after the opposition meet on June 22.
(With inputs from PTI)
Comments
0 comment