June 14, 2017: The filing of nomination for the Presidential election begins today. It will continue till 28th of this month. If needed, the poll will take place on 17th of next month. The term of President Pranab Mukherjee is ending on 24th of July. Opposition leaders will meet today to chalk out their strategy and decide on a consensus candidate for the highest Constitutional post .
The ten member sub-group of the opposition will held consultations at Parliament House in the evening. On the other hand, the BJP is going to undertake an internal consultations on candidate for the Presidential elections.
Replying to a media query in New Delhi, senior party leader and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said his party will talk to all political parties to evolve a broad consensus on the Presidential nominee in the true spirit of democracy. He said, being the ruling party, the BJP has to take everyone on board and work towards evolving a broad consensus.
Naidu is part of a three-member committee formed by BJP president Amit Shah to hold consultations with BJP’s allies as well as opposition parties. Mr. Shah met Venkaiah Naidu at his residence yesterday and discussed the issue. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are the other two members of the committee. (AIR News)