With uncertainty over PA Sangma’s candidature for the Presidential poll in the wake of NCP’s threat to sack him, BJP on Wednesday decided to adopt a wait-and-watch attitude and deferred the NDA meeting.
Party sources said the NDA meeting, which was earlier planned for Wednesday, has been deferred as there is no fresh development since APJ Abdul Kalam withdrew from the race.
“We have decided to adopt a wait and watch attitude...the NDA could meet within a week to take a call,” a party leader said in New Delhi.
BJP leaders said that there appears to be a consensus within the BJP on backing Mr Sangma for the high constitutional post. However, with NCP still trying to persuade the former Speaker to withdraw from the contest, the party does not want to declare its support for Mr Sangma and face embarrassment in case he decides to pull out of the race.
The BJP also wants to use this time to persuade the JD(U) for a contest instead of a consensus on UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee.
The NDA will also keenly watch the meeting of Left parties to be held on Thursday.
Party sources said the NDA is likely to meet only after it gets a final assurance from Mr Sangma that he will contest. June 30 is the last date to file nominations for the election.
Keywords: Presidential election, NDA presidential candidate, NDA allies, UPA presidential candidate, PA Sangma, coalition politics







BJP, by its conduct, seems to be keen to define the term "Reactionary" Party.
They do not seem to have a plan of their own and have been in a "reacting" mode to the UPA choosing a nominee, Abul Kalam making up his mind and, now, to see whether NCP will expel Sangma.
The party has failed the nation and its own supporters by a negative role in parliament and now is keen to do the same in the Presidential elections.
The entire strategy (or merely tactics) seems to be to foil UPA in its objectives rather than create a vision of their own and exert themselves towards the realization of such vision. Thus the negative role in Lok Pal bill, obstruction in parliament and now, dithering in the Presidential election.
It is time someone told them the role of the main opposition Party is to propose alternatives to government policies based on their own vision for the nation.
It is unfortunate that our paper seems to gloat over NDA's( read BJP's)
discomfiture to an unbelievable level. In this I feel reporting and
editorial could be a little more charitable which is normally the case
with "THE HINDU". as a daily. I am 80 and has been a ardent admirer for
65years and over. That only has prompted me to send this. Sorry for the
comment.
How long it will take for BJP and NDA to finalise a candidate? Will they be able to announce a candidate atleast by June 26 2017?
This clearly shows that althought the BJP likes to critisize the goverment for every single thing they can find fault with, when it comes to taking decisions it is also handicapped by exactly the same constraints that congress faces. It is even more embarrasing that BJP cannot suggest one of its own for the post and has to go piggy back on other peoples suggestions....moral of the story...unless we elect a single party majority goverment (either BJP or Congress) this is what we will be stuck with...dirty coalition politics
Shameful scenario that India has no oposition party worth its salt. Instead of agenda based oposition. BJP is indulging in unprincipled politics and that too with a broken front. Looks like 2014 will be a cake walk for the Congress aprty with the shanbles that the BJP appears to be. And how unfortunate beating India's image will take if N Modi is projected as the PM. Nitish Kumar should be made the Pm candidate for BJP and not Modi.
At this rate, NDA will end up deciding on its candidate only after the
election is over.
BJP must act with wisdom and watch every step before facing the 2014 elections. As a political move it should go for the Presidential candidate proposed by Congress party which has a majority alliance and gain some credit. How stupid it is to support any candidate who has no numbers in this number game or to think of splitting UPA where integrity is no relevance. Democracy is after all only a number game and National government only will satisfy all parties is the best solution for India's unending problems.
BJP proclaims itself as a party with a difference.The party is the
political face of the RSS.Barring the Rath Yatra lead by Advani in the
early nineties which catapulted it to power,the party had all along been
shy to proclaim that takes dictates from the RSS.
What prevents the major opposition party from declaring Advani as its
presidential candidate to oppose a congressman?
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