Rift in NDA over presidential candidate

Now the difference between NDA alliance on the president poll candidates has been surfaced as major component JD (U) has chosen its own way saying that the candidate suggested by BJP is its own choice and it has nothing to do with NDA.

JD (U) president Sharad Yadav said that the name suggested by Sushma Swaraj is her own party view. Yadav, who is the convener of NDA, said no name has been discussed between both the parties and NDA alliance component.

It is noted that BJP leader Sushma Swaraj had said her party would not support Mukherjee or any other Congress candidate. She also said the party would not back Ansari but was open to former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

A day later, BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the party want them to bring such a candidate on which all parties can arrive at consensus... but going by what the Congress did in the last presidential poll, when they converted it in a contest rather than electing a unanimous candidate, we have no expectation.

"If they try to bring some political figure, we will definitely not accept," he added.

Meanwhile Samajwadi Party (SP), which is extending outside support to the Congress-led government, said Kalam was a good choice and pitched for a Muslim candidate.

SP leader Kamal Farooqui also suggested the names of Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi and former deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan. 

The UPA has over 40 percent of the total votes in the Electoral College while the NDA has less than 30 percent. Neither grouping can elect a presidential candidate on its own electoral strength.

(With inputs from IANS)