Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and former West Bengal governor, turned down the opposition parties’ request to run in the upcoming presidential election today. After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, the 77-year-old is the third political figure to withdraw his name as a possible opposition nominee for the July presidential elections.
“Several highly regarded Opposition leaders have given me the honour of considering me for the Opposition’s candidature in the upcoming elections for the highest office of Rashtrapati. I am extremely grateful to them. However, after considering the matter deeply, I believe that the Opposition’s candidate should be one who will foster national consensus and a national atmosphere besides Opposition unity. Others, I believe, will do this far better than I will,” Mr. Gandhi stated.
Mr. Gandhi’s remarks come ahead of a scheduled meeting of opposition parties in Mumbai to discuss their joint presidential candidate. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed his name.
The Presidential election is set to be held on July 18 and the votes will be counted on July 21.
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