Presidential poll: Cracks in Opposition ahead of crucial meet, Meira Kumar meets Sonia Gandhi

Cracks appeared in the Opposition ahead of Thursday’s crucial meeting on the presidential poll, with the JD-U deciding to stay out of the talks after extending its support to NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday.

The opposition camp is yet to name its candidate for the poll, but former speaker Meira Kumar’s meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence, a day before the meeting, fuelled speculation that she had emerged as the front runner.

Sources said the JD(U)’s announcement led to hectic deliberations through the day between senior leaders of the Congress and other non-NDA parties on how to keep the opposition together.

The Congress, which is coordinating the opposition meet, expressed the hope that leaders of all parties which attended the May 26 luncheon hosted by Gandhi would be present on Thursday.

Sources said top Congress and other opposition leaders talked to several leaders to ensure the presence of all non- NDA parties at the meeting, which will decide on the opposition’s presidential candidate.