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The Opposition parties have begun gearing up for a symbolic battle against the BJP in the upcoming Presidential election.
Though the numbers are stacked heavily in favour of the ruling alliance and its supporters, leaders of the Opposition expressed confidence and said their fight is a political one.
The Opposition’s candidate, Meira Kumar, said it was an honour for her to contest the election with the backing of 17 political parties. In statement issued here on Friday, she said the post of the President carries the responsibility of safeguarding and defending our constitutional principles. “It embodies the diversity of our socio-political culture and the vision of our composite ideology. It transcends the considerations of caste, religion or region. The post is not symbolic; it articulates, in the fullest sense, the basis of our electoral philosophy — that capability and experience must always supersede all other considerations,” the former Speaker said.
She said she upholds the values of inclusiveness, social justice and pluralism and the President also must uphold as the supreme representative of the nation. “If these values are undermined so is our Constitution, and India can then not hope to achieve the progressive modernity envisioned by its founding fathers and reflected in the collective will of its people,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties attempted to reach out to JD(U) President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had pledged support for NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind. RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who had earlier termed Kumar’s decision a “historic blunder”, appealed to the JD(U) should vote for the daughter of Bihar. “We are still treading on the path you had suggested to make the country ‘Sangh-mukt’...don’t know what made Kumar move away and extend support to a RSS man,” Yadav told reporters in Patna. He reiterated that JD(U)’s decision will have no impact on the coalition.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said elections were a political fight to safeguard Constitutional values.
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