News

Meira Kumar, Prakash Ambedkar on top of Opposition wishlist as Presidential candidate

by IBNS 21 Jun 2017, 11:59 pm

New Delhi, June 22 (IBNS) : Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of BR Ambedkar, are the front runners of the opposition camp that meets on Thursdayto decide a Presidential candidate after the BJP-led NDA Government threw its gauntlet by naming Dalit leader Ram Nath Kovind as its pick.

Like Kovind, both Meira Kumar and Prakash Ambedkar are from the Dalit community with the prospect of an interesting battle being on the cards. 

Meira Kumar is the daughter of Dalit stalwart and former deputy prime minister late Jagjivan Ram.

According to political observers, by naming  71-year-old Kovind, Modi has pulled off  a masterstroke as it has already divided the opposition that was trying to put up a consensus candidate. 

While the BJD, TRS and YSR have promptly supported Kovind's candidature, JDU chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also backed the low-profile Dalit leader.

The Left parties were said to be in favour of Prakash Ambedkar’s candidature, though, according to media reports, they are not opposed to Meira Kumar either.