Opposition’s presidential candidate Meira Kumar on Tuesday said she would contest the polls on the plank of democratic values, inclusiveness, social justice and destruction of caste structure. Kumar, who will contest against NDA’s Ram Nath Kovind for the post of president, described the presidential poll as a “battle of ideologies” and not a “Dalit versus Dalit” fight as was being out made out by some.
The former lok Sabha Speaker is likely to start her campaign from June 30 from Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat after scrutiny of her nomination. She will file her papers on Wednesday in the presence of top opposition leaders.
Addressing her first press conference after being chosen as the joint candidate of 17 opposition parties, Kumar said, “This unity is based on their firm ideological positions, democratic values, inclusiveness, social justice, freedom of press, transparency, end of poverty, destruction of caste structure as some of those cherished values which form an important component of this ideology.”
“I don’t want that this election for the top position in the country should be contested on the basis of caste. No countryman would want that. We are fighting this on the basis of ideology,” said the former diplomat and daughter of Dalit leader Jagjivan Ram.
Referring to the perception that her selection was on the basis of her caste, she said this was the election for the highest position in the land where caste had no role.
On Union minister Sushma Swaraj’s releasing a video of a lok Sabha speech to indicate how she was treated as leader of opposition, Kumar said leaders of various parties had never criticised her for her style of functioning but appreciated it. “None had alleged that my style of functioning was biased,” she said.
She said she had not decided on whether to appeal to JD (U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to support her nomination. Kumar brushed aside charges of irregularities over a bungalow in luytens Delhi being coverted to a memorial dedicated to her father.
“These charges are baseless and are being levelled with the intent of tarnishing my image. The government has given the bungalow to a government body and later a government office.”