From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu (72), who retires in August, is tipped to be the next President of India as he is most likely to be the nominee of the BJP-led NDA for the presidential election slated on July 18.
His direct contest may be against former union finance and external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha (84), a joint candidate of the Opposition parties as decided on Tuesday. He has been the BJP President and holds experience of various central ministries.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday called on Venkaiah Naidu ahead of the BJP Parlimentary Board’s meeting in the evening, sparking a buzz that the ruling combine is considering him for the top constitutional post.
Singh and Nadda had been authorised by the BJP to speak to various parties, including those in the Opposition, on the presidential poll and Shah joining them in meeting Venkaiah Naidu indicated that he was conveying the wish of Prime Minister Modi on the issue.
Venkaiah Naidu had left Delhi on a 3-day trip to Hyderabad only on Monday, but he cut short his visit and returned on Tuesday.
The ruling combine has over 48% vote share in the electoral college for the presidential election and so its candidate has a clear advantage over the Opposition. Chief Ministers of Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are expected to extend their parties’ support to the NDA candidate while Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal is also an ally of the NDA to vote for its candidate.
