The filing of nominations for the President election began from 14 June and the last day to file the nominations is 28 June. If the NDA fails to come up with a consensus candidate along with the support of the opposition parties, contest is likely to be held. The elections will be held on 17 July and the results might be announced by 20 July.
Amidst all the discussions, the Left parties have proposed the name of former governor of West Bengal, Gopalkrishna Gandhi for the post of President. According to a source in the CPI-M and CPI, the party would also have no objection if JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav was nominated as a candidate.
A Left leader said that Sharad is a senior opposition leader and a man of integrity and honesty.
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and a group of opposition leaders have intensified the efforts to zero in on a “mutually acceptable” presidential candidate to avoid the contest, which is likely to happen. NDA is trying hard to lure as many parties as possible to win the majority.