Presidential election: Gopalkrishna Gandhi opts out, TMC likely to pitch Yashwant Sinha’s name

The Opposition’s search for a “true custodian of the Constitution” ahead of the election for the next President has landed in troubled waters, with all three candidates proposed so far opting out.

 

On Monday, former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi became the third proposed face, apart from NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, to decline the request of the joint Opposition.

 

By quitting the race only a day before the second round of discussions, convened by Pawar at Parliament Annexe, Gandhi made the task all the more complicated for the leaders. “Having considered the matter deeply, I see that the Opposition’s candidate should be one who will generate a national consensus and a national atmosphere, besides Opposition unity. I feel there will be others who will do this far better than I. And, so, I have requested the leaders to give the opportunity to such a person,” Gandhi said in a written statement released to the media.

 

There were indications of a consensus developing around Gandhi’s name, with even parties such as AAP hinting that it might be acceptable to them due to his illustrious career straddling the world of diplomacy and academia.