AGENCIES
NEW DELHI
A news channel quoted three top sources from the BJP and RSS as saying that the External Affairs Minister, 65, qualified in every criteria laid down by the BJP top brass and at the same time, had the backing of the Sangh.
The media house also quoted a top BJP leader, privy to deliberations, as saying that a decision was made earlier on not to field any apolitical candidate just for the sake of building a consensus.
“Leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Naveen Patnaik will find it difficult to oppose her,” he was quoted as saying.
Names of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu have also been doing the rounds.
BJP veterans MM Joshi and LK Advani’s chances were reduced after they were chargesheeted in the Babri demolition case.
BJP sources have said the NDA candidate is likely to file nomination before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for the US on June 25.
Union ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Rajnath Singh, two members of the panel apart from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, will meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday as part of efforts to evolve a broad consensus on the presidential candidate.
