A total of 17 Opposition parties, led by the Congress, have picked former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as their candidate for the July 17 Presidential election, making the contest for India's highest constitutional post a Dalit versus Dalit battle. India has had only one Dalit President in KR Narayanan.
The Opposition's move comes three days after the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) chose then Bihar Governor and Dalit leader Ram Nath Kovind as its nominee. It should be a smooth sailing for Kovind, who has quit as Governor to file his nomination, as the NDA has a clear edge in the Electoral College, and a string of fence-sitters has also pledged support to him.
The Opposition's meeting, chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday, has tried to put Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a tight spot. Nitish broke away from the united Opposition camp on Wednesday to back Kovind. Now, the Opposition's choice is from Nitish's Bihar. More importantly, Meira Kumar is former PM and renowned Dalit leader Jagjivan Ram's daughter. Kovind is from UP's Kanpur.
Kovind, 71, is a lawyer by profession and two-term Rajya Sabha member. Meira Kumar, who is five months older, is also a law graduate. She spent 14 years as an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.
Sonia said it was a battle of ideology and not a question of personalities, appealing to other political parties to root for the Opposition candidate. She also denied that she was upset with Nitish over his decision to back Kovind.
Those who attended Thursday's meeting said Meira Kumar's choice was "unanimous". CPM's Sitaram Yechury had earlier backed Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar's son Prakash Ambedkar. But it is believed that BSP supremo Mayawati expressed reservations. So the choices boiled down to Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde, economist Bhalchandra Mungekar and Meira Kumar.
A senior leader said that Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi, whose name was also being considered initially for a possible Opposition candidate, quit the race after the NDA announced Kovind's name.
By naming Kovind, the NDA put the Opposition camp in a fix. Parties were forced to think of a suitable Dalit candidate to oppose Kovind so as not to be branded "anti-Dalit".
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who arrived late for Thursday's meeting, as his flight from Ranchi got delayed, appealed to Nitish to support "the daughter of Bihar."
"We will meet tomorrow and appeal to him to reconsider his decision. One must not commit 'a historical mistake' by taking such a wrong decision," he said.
But JD (U) leaders Pawan Varma and KC Tyagi said there was no question of the party changing its mind.
While Nitish's decision to go with the BJP has put fresh pressure on their already fragile alliance in Bihar, Lalu also asserted that there was no threat to the government in Bihar.
President Pranab Mukherjee's term ends on July 24.
Journey of a diplomat-politician
Born: March 31, 1945 (age 72)
Father: Former Deputy PM and Dalit leader Jagjivan Ram
Place of birth: Arrah, Bihar
Profession: Ex-IFS officer
Political journey:
- Joined Congress and contested LS polls in1985 from Bijnor, defeating Ram Vilas Paswan and Mayawati
- Member of 8th, 11th & 12th Lok Sabha from Karol Bagh, Delhi
- Served as first woman Speaker from 2009 to 2014
Meira Kumar was a Union Minister from 2004 to 2009. She is a law graduate and holds a Master's degree in English literature from Delhi University. She qualified for IFS in 1973 and served at embassies in Mauritius, Spain and the UK.
...& ANALYSIS
- With two Dalit candidates in the fray, the contest for India's highest constitutional post seems to be reduced to a caste battle.
- The NDA has a clear edge with all AIADMK factions, JD(U), BJD, TRS and YSR Congress supporting it.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Meira kumar & Ram nath kovind")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}