The BJP is confident of having its nominee elected to the post of the President by a margin of at least 1,15,720 votes when Pranab Mukherjee retires in July.
According to sources, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will strive for a consensus candidate if the Opposition made such an offer.
A senior Union Minister said a formal consultation on the Presidential nominee from the NDA’s side is yet to take off in a structured manner.
“In the event of a contest, the NDA nominee is sure to emerge victorious by a margin of 1,15,720 votes,” the leader said.
There are 776 MPs (lok Sabha 543, Rajya Sabha 233) and 4,120 MlAs across the country. Total number of votes in Electoral College stands 10.98 lakh and the majority mark would be around 5.49 lakh votes. The total value of MlA votes is 5,49,474 and the total MP votes is 5,49,408.
The leader expressed confident that the AIADMK will go with the NDA. “By inviting the DMK to join the Opposition camp, Sonia Gandhi has ensured that the AIADMK will be on our side,” he said.