NCP MLA at Goa event, Nitin Gadkari puts it at 70%+

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari here on Saturday claimed that Kovind will win the Presidential elections bagging more than 70 per cent of the voting share. He said the election would be a one-sided affair.

Gadkari was accompanying NDA's Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, who met all the MLAs of Manohar Parrikar government at a resort in Bogmalo Beach, Vasco. Surprise element was the presence of NCP MLA Churchill Alemao. Just before the meeting, Churchill reached the venue and attended the meeting. He, however, told reporters that it is up to the party chief to decide whom the party will support. He further said that he attended the meeting on the invitation of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar said he is contacting MLAs of all the parties, and that Goa's contribution in the Presidential election will be significant.

BJP Goa in-charge Nitin Gadkari said the meeting was very fruitful as all the independent MLAs apart from alliance partners attended it. Gadkari said he is sure that Kovind will win the Presidential election with more than 70 per cent votes.

Analysis

Ram Nath Kovind, 71, is the hot favourite to be elected on Monday as India’s new President.
It will be only the second time, after KR Narayanan, that a Dalit will be assuming the country’s top post.
For PM Modi, Kovind’s election will send an important message to a key, long disdained electoral group.