“The opposition only put up a pretence of trying to form a consensus on the president candidate,” Mayawati said.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, on Saturday, declared support National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Droupadi Murmu in the presidential polls. The BSP “has identified the tribal community as a major part of our movement”, and thus the decision to back Ms Murmu, a tribal leader, was taken, the former UP CM said.
The BSP supremo also slammed the opposition for not consulting her party on their presidential pick Yashwant Sinha. “Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called only a few select parties for the first meeting and (Nationalist Congress Party chief) Sharad Pawar also did not call the BSP for a discussion. The opposition only put up a pretence of trying to form a consensus on the president candidate,” Mayawati said.
Mayawati further alleged that since the Opposition is continuing with its casteist mindset against her party, the BSP was free to take a decision on the presidential elections.
“The BSP is the only national party whose leadership is with Dalits. We are not a party that follows the BJP or the Congress, or one that is involved with industrialists. On the other hand we take decisions in favour of the oppressed, and if any party takes a decision in favour of such castes or class of people, we support these parties irrespective of the consequences,” she said.
Meanwhile, Droupadi Murmu, in a big show of strength ahead of the July 18 election, filed her nomination in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP and alliance leaders on Friday.
If elected, Murmu will be the first woman tribal leader to grace the top constitutional post of the country.
The joint opposition has fielded former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha as its candidate against Murmu.
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