Murshidabad violence planned by BJP: CM
Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'great liar', Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that the violence at Rezinagar in Murshidabad on Wednesday was preplanned by the BJP.
Consensus rather than confrontation will be the BJP’s approach while going about finalising the name of its nominee for President of India.
Incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee’s five-year term comes to an end on 25 July. The process of electing his successor has to begin ahead of it. Given the political mood the Opposition parties are unlikely to allow the ruling BJP a cakewalk.
The BJP central leadership has been informally engaged in talks on the issue but is yet to formally sit down and finalise a name for the next incumbent at Rashtrapati Bhavan. But the overweening mood within party circles is to avoid any confrontation, sources told The Statesman here.
Advertisement
The ruling party is expected to formally begin the deliberation process sometime in June. The BJP to begin with, sources said, has shortlisted five probable candidates for the top job, including Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu and Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu. These names have been so far informally discussed. Some other names might well be suggested when the party leaders meet, sources said.
“The situation is very fluid. We don’t know which direction the entire election process will take. After this month, we will sit down for a formal discussion. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah will take the final call, they are in search of a candidate who will be acceptable to all, including the Opposition,” sources said.
A section of leaders in the party feels that given the ‘fairly good’ chemistry between President Pranab Mukherjee and Modi, and if the Opposition too insists on giving him another term then the BJP should explore that option as well. The Modi government has been comfortable working with Mukherjee, they argued. The BJP, however, is keen to have a candidate of its choice as the next President, sources pointed out.
Advertisement
