This is a fight of ideologies and anybody who fights for ideologies is not a scapegoat. I am a fighter and I will fight this election, said Meira Kumar, the Congress-led Opposition parties’ presidential candidate in Bengaluru on Saturday. She was here for her election campaign and said she was not a Congress party’s scapegoat.
She described the decision of the 17 Opposition parties nominating her to take on BJP nominee Ram Nath Kovind as historical. She said, “This unity is based on their firm ideological positions that include democratic values, inclusiveness, social justice and destruction of caste structure.”
“While caste was not discussed in the previous presidential elections, it has become a subject of discussion now, as this is an election of Dalits. When people want development, good roads and infrastructure, it’s time that their thoughts should also be clean,” she said.
She, also said, she would seek votes from JD(U) led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “I have already written to him. I will decide about what to do when I go to Bihar.”
Meira Kumar, also met Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda, at the Kempegowda International Airport soon after landing, sought his support and thanked him for having signed her nomination. She said she has written to MlAs and MPs of all States, irrespective of parties, seeking support in the election. “I have appealed to them to not let go this rare opportunity to script history,” she said. She started her campaign from Gujarat also visit all the States and meet the MlAs and MPs personally to seek their support.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president G Prameshwara, Working president Dinesh Gundu Rao, former Minister S R Patil and some Ministers were present at the Congress office in Bengaluru during her campaign.