Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind is NDA's pick for prez

The BJP on Monday stunned its opponents by announcing that the low-profile Bihar Governor, Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit from Uttar Pradesh, would be its nominee for the President of India. Kovind, who arrived in Delhi from Patna on Monday, will file his nomination on June 23.
Apparently looking for a consensus around Kovind’s candidature, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the BJP Parliamentary Board decided on Kovind’s name.
The 72-year-old Dalit leader, a two-term BJP Rajya Sabha member, is seen as an astute choice by the ruling party, which has been targeted by Opposition parties over Dalit issues. Kovind’s election is almost a certainty as the ruling bloc, with the support of some regional parties, enjoys a majority in the electoral college.
The late KR Narayanan was the country’s first Dalit President. 

Click : Who is Ram Nath Kovind?

‘Careful consideration’

“For the highest post in parliamentary democracy, BJP and NDA have been consulting different parties and groups. We have received a lot of feedback from different social groups as well. We had a long list, which was discussed in the Parliamentary Board. In the end, we finalised the name of Ram Nath Kovind, Governor of Bihar,” Shah said.

The BJP chief was confident that he had the backing of all NDA constituents and asserted that the BJP has also reached out to the Opposition.

“Ram Nathji has always been associated with the poor, downtrodden communities. BJP Parliamentary Board has decided on him. NDA constituents support him as President. Before finalising his name, we have held discussions with all Opposition parties. The PM himself spoke to Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, he has spoken to other senior leaders. BJP and NDA hope that a person hailing from a poor, Dalit background will be elected with consensus,” said Shah.