Sonia hosts lunch for a (dis)united Opposition

A luncheon meeting of 17 opposition parties hosted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Parliament here on Friday offered support to the NDA nominee for the forthcoming presidential elections, if the ruling combination agreed to a candidate with integrity and the one who "steadfastly defends the Constitutional values of the Republic".

However, the lack of Opposition unity was evident, with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar being conspicuous by his absence even though he will be in the Capital on Saturday to attend the lunch being hosted by PM Modi in honour of visiting Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth.

Also, with parties like the BJD, YSR Congress, AIADMK factions and AAP continuing to remain out of this umbrella, the message that came out was a bit toned down.

Instead of discussing any names to contest the election for the highest Constitutional post, the meeting put the onus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to come out with the names of a consensus candidate to avoid election.

The meeting saw the coming together of bitter arch-rivals SP and BSP one the one had and Trinamool Congress and the Left on the other. Leaders present in the meeting said it was decided that before announcing any candidate, there will be an outreach to all the non-NDA parties to put up a stiff fight in case of a contest, since a united Opposition has a razer-thin advantage in the electoral college.

A senior leader, who was part of meeting, said it was decided to remind the government the past precedents — that ahead of presidential polls, past governments have attempted to build a consensus around a candidate as a first priority. "We expect the government to initiate discussions and consult parties across the floor to choose a consensus candidate," he said. "We deliberately did not discuss any names as that would have given Modi an excuse that we have already jumped into the fray and hence where is the question of failure of consensus on any names," said another senior Congress leader.

Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar told reporters after the meeting that a 4-paragraph resolution was adopted to express concern that the BJP was not following the normal practice of taking the initiative to build consensus on names of the candidates for the import offices of the President and the Vice-President. The meeting put the Prime Minister on notice that "if acceptable, consensual candidates do not emerge, then we, the opposition parties, shall decide to field such persons who shall steadfastly defend the constitutional values of our Republic."

The resolution showed the conclave was rather a show of unity as it expressed the parties' resolve "to strengthen floor coordination in Parliament to unitedly oppose the government's policies, that are imposing unprecedented burden on all sections of our people, farmers, working people, youth, SCs/STs, minorities, women and other sections of the society in various parts of the country."

Emerging out of the meeting, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said if the Opposition parties could not agree on a unanimous candidate for the upcoming presidential election, a "small committee" could be formed to help them select a suitable nominee. She said the parties present also criticised the "horrible" situation in Kashmir, where security forces were battling civilians, and in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, which has been witnessing caste clashes since April.

Several names have been doing the rounds as probable candidates. Among them are former West Bengal Governor and Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopal Krishna Gandhi, former JD-U president Yadav, Former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar and NCP chief Pawar. Though NCP leader has ruled himself out of the race, many in Opposition are still banking upon him. Bihar Chief Minister Kumar has mooted a second term for incumbent Pranab Mukherjee and suggested that the ruling BJP try and build consensus on him.

Sources said the suggestion to give government a chance to field a consensus candidate came from Mamata Banjerjee, which was endorsed by many in the meeting. Incidentally, she had only Thursday night, met the Prime Minister. "Even when Atalji (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the BJP) was there, there were always talks with the Opposition. Anybody can talk to anybody," Mamata said.

...& ANALYSIS

• Without a complete unity, the Opposition stands no chance in the Presidential poll.
   
• It is quite clear that the NDA ranks are swelling as the polls come closer.