Why BJP may surprise again with its pick for President of India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah will be meeting the heads and representatives of the 32 allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) today. Sources said the meeting - second since Modi assumed charge as PM in May, 2014 - is being held to decide the government’s future strategy. Observers, however, say it has more to do with the upcoming President election.

Despite registering an emphatic win in the recent Assembly elections, the BJP is not taking things lightly. Both Modi and Shah would like to use the meeting to galvanize support from their allies ahead of the Presidential election.

The BJP and its old ally, the Shiv Sena, may have been experiencing a blow hot, blow cold relationship but Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has confirmed that he will be attending the meeting. Telugu Desam Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his Jammu and Kashmir counterpart Mehbooba Mufti will also be present.

The NDA commanders know it well that they will need the support of every party if PM Narendra Modi wants a person of his choice on the President’s chair.

The new President should be elected by July 25 and reports suggest the BJP is already working on the names of the probable candidates.

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LK ADVANI

If political grapevine is to be believed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants BJP patriarch LK Advani to be the next President of India. Some media reports claimed that PM Modi proposed Advani’s name during a meeting in Somnath, Gujarat. Modi reportedly said that electing Advani as the President will be akin to giving ‘guru dakshina’ to the veteran leader.

RSS CHIEF MOHAN BHAGWAT

Though he has dismissed reports about him being in the Presidential race, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat could be the BJP’s choice for the top post.

“If India has to be made a Hindu rashtra, Bhagwat will be a good choice for President. But the decision (to support his candidature) will be taken by Uddhavji (Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray),” Sena leader Sanjay Raut had said.

“When we joined the Sangh, we closed doors for all other possibilities. We work only for the Sangh and the society, and my name would not come up for the President’s post. And even if my name is proposed, I will not accept it,” Bhagwat had said rejecting Raut’s suggestion.

LOK SABHA SPEAKER SUMITRA MAHAJAN

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan may also be given a consideration by the BJP for the President’s post. Being close to the ruling party and her effective way of managing the Lok Sabha may work in Mahajan’s favour.

JHARKHAND GOVERNOR DRAUPADI MURMU

The BJP has a habit of surprising everyone when it comes to picking up names for the Chief Minister’s post. The recent examples being Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat where the party named Yogi Adityanath and Vijay Rupani as respective CMs. The party may again spring a surprise by picking up Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu for the President’s post.

Source: The India Today