West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Friday, asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come out with a consensus candidate for the presidential polls.
A top source in West Bengal BJP, who requested not to be named, told THE WEEK, “West Bengal chief minister asked the PM for a consensus candidate which would be acceptable for both Congress and her party."
However, chances are low that BJP would go for a consensus candidate, as NDA is close to getting the required numbers.
Mamata had backed a second term for Pranab Mukherjee, who refused to enter the fray unless there was a consensus on his candidacy. Gopal Krishna Gandhi toed the same line. Nitish Kumar had decided to stay away from the meeting at Sonia Gandhi’s residence.
At this, Mamata made a last attempt to try and convince Modi to discuss the name with opposition before coming out with a candidate.
“We will not discuss with the opposition. First, it has to be discussed within NDA. Then the opposition would be intimated,” said a general secretary of the party.
