Sources said Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who was the Governor of West Bengal from 2004 to 2009, has sought some time from these leaders and will get back to them by Wednesday. (File Photo/Getty Images)
Leaders who spoke to him said their initial response to his request was “positive”.
- PTI New Delhi
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With the opposition trying to fight unitedly in the presidential election, some leaders have approached former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi as a possible alternative, sources said on Tuesday. was the unanimous opposition candidate for the post of Gandhi’s vice-president India In 2017 but lost to M Venkaiah Naidu in the election.
Sources said some opposition leaders spoke to Gandhi over phone and urged him to consider his request to be a joint opposition candidate for the post of President. Sources said some other names are also being considered and opposition leaders have also approached them to get their consent. Sources said Gandhi, who was the Governor of West Bengal from 2004 to 2009, has sought some time from these leaders and will contact them by Wednesday.
Leaders who spoke to him said their initial response to his request was “positive”. Sources said that if he accepts the request, he may emerge as the unanimous opposition candidate for the top post as his name was already agreed upon in the last vice-presidential election.
The 77-year-old former bureaucrat has also served as India’s High Commissioner to South Africa and Sri Lanka. He is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and C Rajagopalachari. Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee A meeting of various opposition parties has been called to deliberate on the opposition’s choice for the presidential candidate.
Some leaders have proposed the name of NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, but the veteran leader has refused to contest the election. Elections will be held on July 18 to elect Ramnath Kovind’s successor. Kovind had defeated joint opposition candidate Meira Kumar in the last presidential election.
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