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Updated June 13th, 2022 at 18:29 IST

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar clears air around Presidential nomination buzz; sets record straight

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Monday refuted all the speculations and stated that he is not interested in being the presidential candidate. 

Reported by: Astha Singh
Presidential elections
PTI | Image:self
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Days after the announcement of the Presidential elections 2022 schedule, the name of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is being floated as a possible candidate for the NDA alliance. However, while addressing the Janta Darbar in Patna on Monday, Nitish Kumar himself refuted all such speculations and stated that he is not interested in being the presidential candidature. It is pertinent to mention here that in the month of February, speculations began doing the rounds that the JDU supremo will be considered for Presidential candidature by the Opposition. 

"I am sorry, but I have no desire, please do not involve me in this matter. I am not interested. After a few days it will be known for itself, who will be the candidate", said Nitish Kumar on the question of becoming the President.

Notably, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has authorized its National President JP Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to consult with other political parties regarding presidential polls. The two leaders will interact with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition United Progressive Alliance (UPA) constituents, besides other parties in the presidential elections. It is believed that BJP, with its present strength in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, as well as in many state assemblies, will be in a comfortable position. The party's counter candidate is awaited.

Oppositions nod to Sharad Pawar's presidential candidature

After the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Shiv Sena has now given a nod to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar's name as the Opposition's Presidential candidate. Sources have informed Republic TV that the MVA ally has approved Pawar's name for the Presidential nomination. Meanwhile, Republic has also learned that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be speaking to TMC, NCP, and AAP between today and tomorrow to present the government's side ahead of the elections. 

The development also comes a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Chief Ministers of non-BJP ruled states seeking a joint meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. In her invite to eight Chief Ministers, and 14 Opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Sharad Pawar, and Akhilesh Yadav, amongst others, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo asserted that there was a need to come together with an initiative of "strong and effective opposition against the divisive forces."

Presidential Elections 2022 

The Presidential polls for electing the next President of India will be held on July 18, 2022. During the polls, 4,809 electors comprising MPs and MLAs will vote to decide on the successor to incumbent President Ram Nath Kovind, whose term ends on July 24. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has informed that the notification for the election will be issued on June 15 and the last date for nomination will be June 29. The voting will be carried out on July 18 and the counting of the votes will be held on July 21. 

(Image: PTI)

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Published June 13th, 2022 at 18:29 IST

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