Presidential polls: Mamata not in favour of Ram Nath Kovind as candidate

Indicating that Trinamool Congress will prefer a contest against NDA Presidential nominee, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday suggested that Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind is not a tall Dalit leader and that he lacks the stature to occupy the top post.

Banerjee said someone of the stature of current President Pranab Mukherjee or "even (External Affairs Minister) Sushma Swaraj or (BJP stalwart L K) Advaniji may have been made the candidate".

Her remarks came soon after BJP president Amit Shah announced the name of Kovind, a 71-year-old lawyer-turned-politician, as the BJP nominee for the top post. 

Indicating that her party is not in favour of BJP nominee, she said in a statement, "in order to



support someone, we must know the person. Candidate should be someone who will be beneficial for the country."

She said Opposition would meet on 22 June, "only then we can announce our decision". She said she was "not for a moment" saying that the Bihar Governor is unfit to be the President.

Banerjee said she has already spoken to "two-three other Opposition leaders" who were also "surprised" at the BJP pick.

"There are other big Dalit leaders in the country. Just because he was the leader of Dalit Morcha of BJP, they have made him the candidate. The office of President is a key post. Someone of the stature of Pranab Mukherjee, or even Sushma Swaraj or Advaniji may have been made the candidate," Banerjee said.