Presidential election 2017: Sreedharan denies he is an NDA candidate

Former Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan has denied that any discussions has taken place regarding his candidature for the presidential election. He has also said there was no reality in the news that his name is under BJP-led NDA's consideration for the post of president.

 There was a strong probability of the ruling BJP-led NDA nominating the 'Metro Man' as its candidate for the president's post in the July 17 election. The origin of the controversy was his exclusion, initially, from the list of dignitaries who would share the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the latter would inaugurate the Kochi Metro train on Saturday (June 17).

However, his name was added to the list after an outrage over his name's omission. The Pinari Vijayan government of



Kerala wrote to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) asking it to revise the seating plan.

Later in the day, the PMO said Sreedharan has been included in the list of dignitaries, putting an end to the controversy over the non-inclusion of DMRC principal adviser Sreedharan.

Sources had said that PMO had deliberately omitted Sreedharan's name even though he has played a pivotal role in the building of Kochi Metro. The Centre did not want Sreedharan to be seen sitting with PM Modi and Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on the dais just days before the name of the NDA candidate is announced, they had said.

Speaking to the media today, Sreedharan sought to scotch reports that any discussions have taken place. He also said he does not long for the post.