This refers to the article, “Close contest for next occupant of Raisina Hill” (June 28) by Kalyani Shankar. With the date for presidential poll nearing, curiosity among people — as to who will be the next occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhawan — is increasing.
Going by fissures in the Opposition camp, stemming from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as well as Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav overtly backing NDA's presidential candidate and taking into consideration the value of votes in its kitty, the winds are apparently blowing in Ram Nath Kovind's favour.
However, the Opposition too has fielded a strong candidature, which is former lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. She cannot be taken for granted, given the mercurial temperament of our political leaders. Meira Kumar has herself asserted that her presidential fight is based on ideology in lieu of ‘Scheduled Caste versus Scheduled Caste' mindset.
Some political big guns are also weighing their options for the 2019 lok Sabha election. But before that, Assembly elections to eight States that are due next year, will be the litmus test for Opposition unity. Next month, India will have a new President, positively a Scheduled Caste member.