Former MLA Rakesh Kalia returns to Congress after a brief stint in BJP
He joined the BJP in 2022 after being denied a Congress ticket to contest the Assembly elections from Gagret in Himachal Pradesh.
Union Urban Development minister Venkaih Naidu on Thursday termed Congress party’s ideological claim on fielding candidate for presidential polls as a mere stunt and said its candidate Ramnath Kovind would win the poll, scheduled to be held on 17 July.
Naidu said in the past, the Congress party had fielded Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy for presidential polls, terming it as ‘a call of consciousness’, but he was defeated. “It seems that the party wants to repeat the history in present polls citing same old reasons of ideological battle,” he said.
Questioning the move of the party, he said around 33 political are supporting Kovind, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and everyone is curious over Congress’ stand as it is not general elections. “The presidential poll should be held on a consensus basis and BJP had consulted all parties to only field single candidate,” he said.
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The Union minister said, though Congress is in majority in Himachal Pradesh but still Ram Nath Kovind would still gain majority and win the presidential elections.
Kovind was welcomed by Union Health and Family Welfare minister JP Nadda, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Shimla MP Virender Kashyap, state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti along with party MLAs upon his arrival at Parwanoo in Solan district, around 80 km from here and assured of full support in poll.
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