New Delhi: Opposition parties today were guarded in their reaction on the BJP’s announcement of Bihar Governor and Dalit leader Ram Nath Kovind as the NDA’s Presidential nominee while the Congress and the Left attacked the ruling party for its ‘unilateral’ decision. BJP ally Shiv Sena also avoided any comment and said it would take a decision on Presidential candidate after intra-party consultations. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut declined to say anything beyond this. However, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar welcomed the nomination of Mr Kovind. Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and President of the Hindustan Awami Morcha also supported the BJP’s pick. Mr Manjhi said, ‘ We support the decision taken by the BJP in its Parliamentary Board meeting.” He congratulated BJP national president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing the Bihar Governor as the party’s presidential candidate. Congress senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, however, said,’ The ruling BJP had said that they wanted to arrive at a consensus and created a three-member committee, which talked to us but did not float any names. ‘Today, they unilaterally announced the name. ‘We did not expect it. For our part we will go by consensus and that was the decision taken at the 18-party meeting called by Congress President Sonia Gandhi,’’ he said. Mr Azad said the non-NDA parties will meet in Parliament on June 22 at 1630 hrs for further deliberations. CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury also flayed the BJP for announcing the name without discussing it with the Opposition. ‘Instead of coming back to us with any proposal for Presidential nominee,they just announced the name. We will take a call on it on June 22,’ Mr Yechury added. BSP chief Mayawati said that though her party does not approve of Mr Kovind’s political leanings, it cannot be negative towards him as he is a Dalit. She said her party will be positive towards his candidature provided the combined opposition does not come out with the name of a more able Dalit nominee. It would have been better, Ms Mayawati said, if the BJP had chosen a Dalit figure with a non-political background. RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha also said their party will take a decision at the upcoming meeting. JD-U leader Sharad Yadav said the name of the Presidential candidate will be discussed at the meeting. He added that the discussions would also cover the NDA’s nominee. Lok Janshakti Party chief and Union Minister, Ramvilas Paswan, said,’Everyone should support the BJP’s Presidential nominee.’
