Sonia Gandhi Reaches Out To Opposition Leaders On Fielding ‘Common Candidate’

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has reached out to Opposition leaders for fielding a common candidate for the upcoming presidential poll. The leaders include DMK chief MK Stalin, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.

She has directed the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to hold talks with Opposition parties and build consensus on who should be nominated as a candidate for the next President of India, India Today reported quoting sources.

“Kharge is tasked by Congress President to find out the mind of non-NDA, non-UPA parties. He will hold meetings with Opposition party leaders and find out the probable names of candidates,” a Congress Working Committee member was quoted as saying.

Polls to elect the successor to President Ram Nath Kovind will be held on July 18 and results will be declared on July 21, the Election Commission announced on Thursday.