Presidential poll: BJP stumps Opposition with Dalit face from UP

The BJP on Monday stunned its opponents by announcing that the low-profile Bihar Governor, Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit from Uttar Pradesh, would be its nominee for the President of India. Kovind, who arrived in Delhi from Patna on Monday, will file his nomination on June 23.

Apparently looking for a consensus around Kovind’s candidature, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the BJP Parliamentary Board decided on Kovind’s name.

The 72-year-old Dalit leader, a two-term BJP Rajya Sabha member, is seen as an astute choice by the ruling party, which has been targeted by Opposition parties over Dalit issues. Kovind’s election is almost a certainty as the ruling bloc, with the support of some regional parties, enjoys a majority in the electoral college.

The late KR Narayanan was the country’s first Dalit President.

‘Careful consideration’

BJP President Amit Shah made the announcement following a two-hour-long meeting of the party’s parliamentary board, which was attended by the PM and all top party leaders.

“For the highest post in parliamentary democracy, BJP and NDA have been consulting different parties and groups. We have received a lot of feedback from different social groups as well. We had a long list, which was discussed in the Parliamentary Board. In the end, we finalised the name of Ram Nath Kovind, Governor of Bihar,” Shah said.

The BJP chief was confident that he had the backing of all NDA constituents and asserted that the BJP has also reached out to the Opposition.

“Ram Nathji has always been associated with the poor, downtrodden communities. BJP Parliamentary Board has decided on him. NDA constituents support him as President. Before finalising his name, we have held discussions with all Opposition parties. The PM himself spoke to Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, he has spoken to other senior leaders. BJP and NDA hope that a person hailing from a poor, Dalit background will be elected with consensus,” said Shah.

PM reaching out to Didi?

The PM is also believed to be working the phone with regional leaders such as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu who, sources said, has been deputed to speak to Opposition leaders, particularly Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who met Shah over the weekend, will convene a meeting of party leaders to decide on supporting the NDA’s choice for President, party MP Sanjay Raut said. “Amit Shah called up Uddhavji after the NDA’s presidential candidate was decided in the BJP’s Parliamentary Board meeting. Shah sought the Sena’s support for Ram Nath Kovind,” Raut told reporters in Mumbai.

The President is chosen by the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and Assemblies of the States and Union Territories. Each MP carries a weight of 708 votes, while the value of an MLA’s vote varies in line with the population of the State that he represents. The total pool is about 10.99 lakh votes, with nearly half coming from the 4,120 MLAs and the other half from 776 MPs of both Houses.

A done deal?

With its victory in UP and additional seats won in other States, the BJP and its allies now hold over 47.5 per cent of the entire pool. The YSR Congress, which has pledged support for Kovind, has nearly two per cent vote; and the TRS’ 1.6 per cent, have added to the BJP’s kitty. Favourable noises have also been heard from the AIADMK, which holds about 5.4 per cent of the value of votes.

So, while the BJP has said it will look for consensus, it has the best chance of appointing a candidate of its choice. In all likelihood, Kovind will become India’s only second Dalit President.