Presidential Election 2017 highlights: NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind meets Narendra Modi, Amit Shah

Meira Kumar files nomination even as numbers stack up against her

Even as Meira Kumar's candidature was approved by 17 opposition political parties, the numbers are clearly in favour of Ram Nath Kovind. 

A total of 4,120 MLAs and 776 MPs would cast their votes in the presidential election on 17 July. Kovind fielded by the NDA is expected to garner almost 60 percent of votes with the help of support extended by several non-NDA parties such as JD(U), BJD, and both factions of AIADMK. 

Meanwhile... Oppn denies cracks over presidential poll candidate

Presidential poll candidate has become a bone of contention between JD(U) and the rest of the opposition parties. While JD(U) declared its support for NDA's Ram Nath Kovind for being Bihar's former governor, Congress fielded Meira Kumar, another Dalit and daughter of prominent leader from the state Jagjivan Ram.

However, Nitish's decision to stand by Kovind has started rumours that the Opposition unity may not be as strong as the Congress would like to portray. 

Meira Kumar to pick up 'ideological fight' from 30 June in Gujarat

Ram Nath Kovind finishes nomination procedures on last day of filing papers

BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu filed fourth set of nomination papers on behalf of Kovind to conclude the nomination formalities for the NDA's presidential pick. The Presidential elections, slated for 17 July, will see a race between Opposition's Meira Kumar and Kovind, who has a decided advantage given to the strength of the ruling party in the House. 

Opposition leaders, sans JDU, attend Meira Kumar's nomination

In yet another bid to underscore Opposition's unity, leaders from various political parties flanked Kumar as she reached Parliament House to file her nomination papers. From Congress President Sonia Gandhi, to All India Trinamool Congress' Derek O' Brian, prominent leaders from several opposition parties made appearances alongside Kumar. 
 

However, JD(U)'s presence was noticeably missing from the scene, which had pledged support to NDA's candidate Ram Nath Kovind, even before Kumar's candidature was announced. 

Meira Kumar files nomination

Flanked by major Opposition leaders, including CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and TMC's DereK O' Brian among others. 

Meira Kumar responds to Sushma Swaraj's allegations against her 

Responding to Union minister Sushma Swaraj's releasing a video of a Lok Sabha speech to indicate how she was treated as leader of opposition, Kumar said leaders of various parties had never criticised her for her style of functioning but appreciated it.

"None had alleged that my style of functioning was biased." 

Controversies from the past come back to haunt Oppn presidential candidate 

Controversies from her past has come back to haunt Meira Kumar, who will file her nomination papers today. Kumar has been embroiled in a controversy over a government bungalow allotted to her. It is alleged that using her influence as the Lok Sabha speaker, she apparently got it converted into a memorial for her father. 

Kumar, however, brushed aside these allegations, adding that due process was followed in the move.

"These charges are baseless and are being levelled with the intent of tarnishing my image. The government has given the bungalow to a government body and later a government office."

Meira Kumar to pay homage at Rajghat, Samta Sthal 

Opposition's presidential nominee and former Lok Sabha speaker Kumar said that she will pay her respects at the Samadhis of Mahatma Gandhi and Jagjivan Ram, her father before she files her nomination papers at 11.30 am. 

Meira Kumar to file nomination at 11.30 am

Meira Kumar will file a set of four nomination papers which will be proposed and seconded by leaders of a number of opposition parties. She will file her papers at 11:30 AM in Parliament before the Lok Sabha Secretary General, the returning officer for the 17 July presidential election.

PTI

Haven't yet made up my mind over appealing to JD(U) for support: Meira Kumar

As Nitish Kumar, a Congress ally in Bihar, declared his support for the NDA candidate, Meira Kumar said that she had not yet decided on whether to appeal to Bihar Chief Minister to support her nomination.

However, she had already reached out to each member of the electorate through her letter two days ago in which she made an emotional appeal to their "voice of inner conscience".

In a political comeback, Congress had named Meira the presidential nominee after BJP named Ram Nath Kovind as its presidential pick. While Kovind was the governor of Biihar, Meira hails from the state and is the daughter of a prominent politican Jagjivan Ram. Both Kovind and Meira are Dalits. 

Recent attacks on Dalits, minorities shameful: Meira Kumar

Meira Kumar described recent attacks on Dalits as "shameful", even as she said that it was unfortunate that the elections to a constitutional post are being reduced to the discussion around the candidates' caste. 

"We should hang our heads in shame, even if there is one incident of violence against Dalits." "Even today in our country, atrocities are being
committed on Dalits, the oppressed and weaker sections... my fight is against that," Kumar added. 

Congress slams Sushma Swaraj for attacking its presidential nominee

Meira Kumar will file nomination today

The opposition's presidential candidate Meira Kumar will file her nomination papers on Wednesday, the last date of filing nominations. Apart from prominent Congerss leaders, leaders of 16 other parties supporting her, including NCP's Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad are also expected to be present during the filing of nomination. 

Ram Nath Kovind files his nomination for President in the presence of Narendra Modi: NDTV

Kovind to get Z+ security cover

Ram Nath Kovind has also been accorded Z+ security, and commandos of the NSG and security agencies have also done security audit of Kovind's temporary residence in the capital. "A Z+ and NSG security cover has been given to Ram Nath Kovind," a home ministry spokesperson confirmed.

It is expected that the security cover will be with him in the upcoming days and weeks, as he travels the length and breadth of the country to canvass for support.

Numbers firmly in Kovind's favour

The electoral college comprising all elected MPs and MLAs of India would appear to be firmly behind Ram Nath Kovind. NDA, its constituents and allies make up 48.6 percent of the electoral college. This apart, regional parties like AIADMK, BJD, TRS and JD(U) have also decided to back Kovind's candidature as the next president of India, giving him over 60 percent of the electoral college, and that figure could increase further, given that some regional parties are still undecided.

Modi to accompany Kovind to Lok Sabha

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Friday morning that he will accompany NDA's presidnetial nominee Ram Nath Kovind as he files his nomination papers. According to News18, Kovind will assemble in the Parliament library at 11 am with chief ministers, members of parliament, and members of Legislative Assembly.

Kovind will file his nomination papers at 11.45 am. 

Who is Meira Kumar?

Meira Kumar was elected to Lok Sabha for the first time from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh in 1985, defeating top Dalit leaders Mayawati and Ram Vilas Paswan.

She became an MP for the second time in 1996 and again in 1998 from Delhi’s Karol Bagh constituency but lost her seat in 1999 when NDA returned to power. Kumar was re-elected in 2004 with a huge margin from Sasaram in Bihar, the constituency of her father, and became an MP for the fifth time in 2009.

Who is Meira Kumar?

From being a foreign service officer to a five-term MP and then a Cabinet minister, Kumar has traversed a long way and a varied course that came in handy to her in running the Lok Sabha that often throws itself into scenes of tumult.

She holds an MA and LLB degrees alongwith an advanced diploma in Spanish.

Who is Meira Kumar?

The career of Kumar began when she quit her Indian Foreign Service(IFS) job and decided to fight the Lok Sabha polls in 1985, a year before her father’s death.

Who is Meira Kumar?

Daughter of former deputy prime minister late Jagjivan Ram, Meira Kumar, 72, was the first woman to occupy the high office of the Lok Sabha Speaker between 2009 and 2014 during the UPA-II rule.

PDP oppose Ram Nath Kovind's candidature

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) will hold a meeting of its 28 MLAs and two Rajya Sabha MPs to decide which candidate to vote for during the presidential election on 17 July, after some of its members expressed opposition to NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind, due to his RSS background.

UPA nominee for President's post Meira Kumar more capable and popular than NDA candidate: BSP supremo Mayawati. 

Mayawati announces BSP support to Meira Kumar

"I had initially said Kovind was connected to RSS and BJP ideologies. I had also said that a non-Dalit would've been a better NDA candidate. After the BJP and NDA's one-sided decision, the opposition parties called for a meeting, Today, UPA and others have unaniomously chose Meira Kumar who comes from a Dalit background, " Mayawati tells at a press conference

"You cannot look at her (Meira Kumar's) caste. Her credentials are known to the world," DMK leader Kanimozhi tells Times Now

None better than Meira Kumar

Talking to reporters, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said: "There could not have been a better candidate than Meira Kumar for the post of President."

Nitish has done a historical mistake, People of Bihar will never forget him: RJD 

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after 17 opposition parties led by Congress announced to pitch Meira Kumar against NDA nominee Ramnath Kovind.

After attending the meeting in Delhi, RJD leader Lalu Prasad said that Nitish had done a historical mistake.

"Nitish had called me and told about his decision. I advised him not to do so but I can't say what happened after that. Now everybody knows what He has done. He himself had pitched for opposition unity and backtracked," Lalu said.

Latest salvo from the RJD is set to widen the cracks within the ruling Mahagathbandhan. Other alliance partner Congress has also denounced Nitish' party JD(U) for going with the BJP.

Back in Patna, RJD MLA Bhai Virendra challenged Nitish Kumar to change his decision to support Kovind having RSS background.

"People of Bihar will never forget Nitish Kumar. Now a daughter of Bihar from Dalit background has been named Presidential candidate. Nitish should have waited and thought about it. He has done a big mistake and will pay price for that," he said.

Not only Bhai Virendra but other RJD leaders have openly ciriticised Nitish Kumar since yesterday when the Bihar CM announced to support Kovind. 

JD(U) did not participate in today's opposition meeting held in Delhi but RJD leader Lalu Yadav was present there. Lalu had made it clear that He would go with what the Congress led opposition will decide.

Senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh alleged that Nitish had taken the decision to demean the RJD. He also feared the ruling Mahagathbandhan might not last long in Bihar.

- Alok Kumar, reporting from Patna

Will meet Nitish Kumar and will continue to urge him to change his decision to support NDA prez candidate Kovind: Lalu Prasad

"As a woman I would want to compliment Meira ji but they dont have the numbers. The majority is for Ram Nath Kovind with all the correct prerequisites." Shaina NC tells Times Now

"It's a wonderful choice and I wish her all the luck.. I don't think there could've been a better choice than her. Meira Kumar's name has been doing rounds for long time. She is a well known and highly respected figure," senior Congress leader Sheila Dixit tells Times Now

Who is Meira Kumar?

Ram Nath Kovind's selection as NDA candidate is to deepen the Hindutva agenda

Won’t support BJP’s Presidential candidate if it is for votebank: Uddhav Thackeray 
"If someone is trying to make a Dalit a President with the purpose of gaining a vote bank then we are not with them," Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said about Ram Nath Kovind, NDA's pick for the 2017 Presidential elections. He then went to add that, "But if it is for the development of the nation then we may support."

Someone of the stature of Pranab Mukherjee or even Sushma Swaraj  should have been nominee: Mamata Banerjee

Narendra Modi-Amit Shah masterstroke stumps Opposition

Congress was informed only after the decision was made: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Congress will not comment on NDA's pick for the presidential candidate, said Ghulam Nabi Azad, after Amit Shah announced Ram Nath Kovind's candidature. 

Azad further said that Congress has always believed that the Opposition will make an unanimous decision on the presidential candidate. Sonia Gandhi was authorised to form a sub-group. In the meantime, the BJP has decided that three senior ministers will talk to the Opposition about the presidential candidate. During the meeting, no mentioned was mentioned. 

Before the announcement, we had hoped for a discussion so that there is no consensus. They informed Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh only after the decision was made. This was a one-sided decision, said Azad. He added that the final decision will be taken by the Opposition after the 22 June meeting. 

If elected, Ram Nath Kovind will be the second Dalit Indian President

If elected, Ram Nath Kovind will be the second Dalit Indian President after KR Narayanan. The earlier names which were doing the rounds for Presidency included External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. 

"Ram Nath comes from a Dalit family and has struggled a lot. We hope he will be the unanimous candidate for the election," Shah said.
 

He once headed the BJP's Dalit wing.  Kovind was made the Governor of Bihar two years ago after the NDA took power in the centre in May 2014. 

IANS

In an earlier piece, Sunil Raman had written for Firstpost: "Modi and BJP president Amit Shah’s strategy to get Dalit-tribal duo in president and vice-president offices is meant to achieve multiple objectives"