Sinha files presidential poll nomination; Oppn calls in ‘battle of ideologies’ | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Sinha files presidential poll nomination; Oppn calls in ‘battle of ideologies’

Jun 28, 2022 01:59 AM IST

The Opposition also announced an 11-member campaign committee to assist Sinha for the election scheduled to be held on July 18

Opposition nominee and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha filed his nomination papers for the presidential election on Monday in the presence of leaders of 16 political parties even as the NDA candidate, former Jharkhand governor Droupadi Murmu, is all but certain to be elected to the highest office of the land.

Opposition's Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha accompanied by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, TRS leader KT Rama Rao and JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah during filing his nomination papers for the Presidential election, at the Parliament, in New Delhi.
Opposition's Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha accompanied by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, TRS leader KT Rama Rao and JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah during filing his nomination papers for the Presidential election, at the Parliament, in New Delhi.

While Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao announced his support to Sinha hours before his nomination, Jharkhand’s ruling party and key opposition constituent, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which had earlier endorsed Sinha’s candidature, was conspicuous by its absence.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

JMM lawmakers might support Murmu — a member of the Santhal community, designated a Scheduled Tribe — in this election, a section of opposition leaders said, requesting anonymity. Shiv Sena leaders, too, were absent, but Opposition managers attributed it to the ongoing political turmoil in Maharashtra.

The President is elected through a process of proportional representation in which MLAs and MPs (except nominated ones) vote. With the AIADMK, BJD and YSRCP announcing their support in favour of Murmu, she now enjoys 609,587 votes of 1,086,431 votes of the electoral college. Sinha has about 392,242 votes.

The Opposition also announced an 11-member campaign committee to assist Sinha for the election scheduled to be held on July 18. Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Jairam Ramesh (Congress), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Sitaram Yechury (CPM), Praful Patel (NCP), Ranjit Reddy (TRS), Manoj Jha (RJD), D Raja (CPI) and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) are in the panel along with Sudheendra Kulkarni, who was earlier with the BJP.

“All Opposition parties are unitedly supporting Yashwant Sinha ji,” said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was among the leaders who accompanied Sinha.

“Of course, we are supporting the individual, but the real fight is between two ideologies, one ideology of RSS, anger, hatred, and the other of compassion, of all the opposition parties, which are standing together,” Gandhi said, referring to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, ideological mentor of the BJP.

Sinha served as finance and external affairs minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He quit the BJP in 2018 and joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021. He resigned from the TMC after several Opposition leaders wanted a political but non-party candidate. A presidential election candidate has to quit his or her party affiliations and membership in all other bodies.

Speaking to reporters after filing the nomination, Sinha said he will reach out to his former colleagues in the BJP for support. “I called the PM and left a message to speak to him, like before, there was no response. I called Rajnath Singh, he called back, but we couldn’t speak. But I will try and contact all my old contacts in the BJP,” he said.

Sinha dubbed the battle of ideologies as one between absolute power and that of freedom, and questioned the central government’s track record in the welfare of scheduled castes and tribes. “The current President (Ram Nath Kovind) also belongs to a particular community. Does it mean that the community has benefited?” he asked.

“The post of President has some responsibility, and the president is part of the whole scheme of checks and balances… The president has the most important duty of advising the government…” he said.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On