BJP preparing to surprise again about the candidate, these names are being discussed

Delhi: Many names are being discussed from the opposition side regarding the presidential candidate, but the ruling party has not yet opened its cards. Even in the year 2017 when the name of the then Governor of Bihar Ram Nath Kovind was announced by the BJP as a candidate for the presidential election, people were shocked

On Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee held a meeting of opposition leaders, which also included those from the Congress. Decided to discuss the names of a joint presidential candidate. None of the parties like AAP (Delhi and Punjab), TRS (Telangana), YSRCP (Andhra Pradesh), SAD (Punjab) and BJD (Odisha) attended the meeting despite the invitation.

According to an India Today report, the Left was certainly part of the deliberations but is not happy with Mamata Banerjee's unilateral actions. Two names have been suggested in the meeting. The names of former West Bengal Governor and Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi and former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah were discussed in the meeting.

On the other hand, not much is being talked about the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) camp, which is almost certain to win the election. The results will be declared on July 21. Considering the current political situation, more and more possible names of NDA are being discussed more than NDA vs Opposition.

In 2002, NDA nominated APJ Abdul Kalam as its candidate for the post of President of India. The move stunned the opposition Congress and regional parties such as the Samajwadi Party (Uttar Pradesh) and TDP (Andhra Pradesh). He eventually backed the "Missile Man" of India for the country's top constitutional post. Among them was Mamata Banerjee.

Abdul Kalam belonged to Tamil Nadu and the two main parties of the state AIADMK and DMK had no reason to oppose him. The only exception was the Left which fielded freedom fighter Lakshmi Sehgal who lost in a one-sided contest.

Recently, during the last election in 2017, the NDA surprised the then governor of Bihar and low-profile Dalit leader Ram Nath Kovind. He easily won the election. We have seen how the BJP has garnered the support of a large section of voters from the Dalit community through this and other similar measures.

Who will be the Presidential candidate from BJP's side?

NDA may repeat Kovind in the presidential election or surprise us with another surprising option. The speculation about this continues. Some reports said Karnataka Governor and Dalit leader Thaavar Chand Gehlot, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan could also be considered.

Naqvi's name also discussed

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi fits the BJP's habit of reaching out to electorally important communities and leaving little option for the opposition. He is a Shia Muslim. His wife is Hindu. A section of Shia Muslims have been soft on the BJP. Whatever support came from the Muslim community for the NDA government's law against triple talaq came from Shia Muslims.

Naqvi has not been nominated to the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha elections will be held only in 2024. His candidature really cannot be rejected. Kerala Governor Mohammad Arif Khan could be another such choice.

Or any Tamil?

There are many more such possibilities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often praised Tamil culture, saying that the Tamil language is older than Sanskrit. Suppose a Tamilian from the south is chosen as the presidential candidate. In that case it will help BJP to enter almost untouched territory and it will be difficult for some opposition parties like TRS to resist the candidature. It will be difficult for Tamil Nadu's ruling party DMK to remain in the opposition camp as well. The BJP was anyway an ally of Tamil Nadu's opposition AIADMK in the last state elections.

What if NDA chooses a tribal candidate?

Who will fight strongly against the campaign to elect India's first tribal president? Even so-called independents like BJD and YSRCP (Andhra Pradesh) will eventually find it easier to support the NDA as they often do. NDA's tribal prospects include former Jharkhand governor Draupadi Murmu, Chhattisgarh governor Anusuiya Uikey and Odisha's Jual Oram.

Candidate from West Bengal also possible?

If such steps are taken by the NDA, it may also force Mamata Banerjee to reconsider her choice. This has happened in the past also. In 2012, he took a U-turn just 48 hours before the election and voted for Pranab Mukherjee, the UPA's presidential candidate. As the second largest constituent, he had created a coalition crisis by proposing other names. Pranab Mukherjee became the first Bengali to be elected the President of India. Despite his personal equations, it was always difficult for the Chief Minister of West Bengal not to support a Bengali.