Dalit vs Dalit : Meira Kumar is opposition candidate for next President of India

The opposition parties on Thursday selected former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as the Presidential candidate against BJP's Ram Nath Kovind.

There were speculations opposition parties fielding Meira Kumar, who is also a Dalit, as their candidate in a bid to counter Ram Nath Kovind. Yesterday Sonia Gandhi met with Meira Kumar. In fact, her name was among the few, apart from Sushil Kumar Shinde and Prakash Ambedkar, which were earlier doing rounds as likely opposition nominee for the presidency.

Before the meet began, Sitaram Yechury said former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi was the first choice as the Presidential



candidate. Talking to ANI, ahead of the opposition party leaders' meet, the CPM leader said Gopal Krishna Gandhi was the first choice otherwise Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of BR Ambedkar would be the candidate.

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The Congress and the Left parties were the main proponents of forcing an election for President of India and wanted to field a candidate backed by all opposition parties.

Meanwhile, the anti-BJP front has been diminished as Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar and Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami supported the BJP's candidate.