Prez Polls: Opposition picks Meira Kumar; BSP to support, pressure on Nitish to change decision

Meira Kumar has now reacted to her candidature. Thanking Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Meira Kumar appealed all parties to support her. 

Express gratitude to 17 opposition parties who selected me as #PresidentialElection candidate. Delighted by opposition's unity: Meira Kumar pic.twitter.com/IdTDUthBgI

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017

This unity represents coming together of forces wch hv strong ideological base.Going to contest election as their representative-Meira Kumar pic.twitter.com/ofemvNg6sO

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017

As of now, it looks like JD(U) wil stick to its decision of supporting Ram Nath Kovind.

Decided to support #RamNathKovind after taking everything into consideration.Political decisions arent changed in mins&seconds: KC Tyagi,JDU pic.twitter.com/lZPcKpwkZm

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017

BSP Chief Mayawati gave her consent for the name which came in the opposition meet: Satish Mishra, BSP #PresidentialElection #MeiraKumar pic.twitter.com/Dp3l4mKRYL

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017

NCP leader Sharad Pawar proposed three names -- Meira Kumar, former union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Rajya Sabha MP Bhalchandra Mungekar, both Dalits from Maharashtra.

CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury put forward the names of Gopalkrishna Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of B R Ambedkar.

Finally opposition decided on Meira Kumar's name. 

Lalu Prasad Yadav says they will never support BJP candidate and hence Meira Kumar's name was floated. They hope that JD(U) too back Kumar's candidature. 

Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar's name for #PresidentialElection. pic.twitter.com/39PL0S1VqE

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017

BJP has reacted to Meira Kumar's candidature.

Sushil Modi says that BJP has already won the match.

Lalu Prasad Yadav said that he will try to convince Nitish Kumar to support Meira Kumar.

According to reports, Mayawati too has pledged support to opposition's candidate.  

Ghulam Nabi Azad is now addressing the Press Conference. He says that all 17 political parties decided on the name of Meira Kumar as opposition's candidate for the Presidential Election. 

Meira Kumar, daughter of Jagjivan Ram is a five time MP. She is one of the tallest Congress leaders from Bihar and was elected unopposed as the speaker of Lok Sabha in 2009. 

By fielding Meira Kumar, opposition has indicated that it is unwilling to give up without a fight. The numbers though are clearly stacked against her. 

A former IFS officer, Meira Kumar was also the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment in the Manmohan Singh government. 

Opposition meeting to decide Presidential candidate has started in New Delhi. Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and other top leaders are in a huddle to prop up a candidate to counter Ram Nath Kovind. 

Opposition parties meeting on #PresidentialElection underway in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/aAOwxZZnwE

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017

Gopal Gandhi is our first choice, next is Prakash Ambedkar: Sitaram Yechury; says ahead of Opposition meet