Presidential Election 2017: Ram Nath Kovind files nomination in presence of PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: The filing of nomination papers by BJP-led NDA’s presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind saw party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi in attendance but key ally Shiv Sena played the spoilsport by keeping away while JD (U) maintained that though it is supports the former Bihar Governor it would neither sign as a proposer or seconder nor send a representative.

Though Kovind is set to be the President since NDA has the numbers BJP claims it is likely to get more than 62% votes as of today. Meanwhile, the ruling party faced some embarrassment as Shiv Sena did not send a representative.

While Sena sources said party was not invited, senior BJP leaders insisted that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar had himself talked to ally and extended an invitation.

“Shiv Sena MPs had visited Ananth Kumar’s residence and signed as proposers and seconders a couple of days ago. It was understood that they will be present and the minister had requested them to be there,” a senior BJP office-bearer said.

JD(U) also did not send any representative. Sources said BJP made efforts till Thursday evening to convince JD(U) to send a leader but Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar did not agree.



“JD(U) maintains that it is supporting Kovind but is not a part of NDA. This is a one-off case where the party is supporting BJP. Hence, the party has not sent anybody nor signed as a proposer or seconder,” sources said. JD(U) leader K C Tyagi, however, underlined that his party has decided to support Kovind and there is no going back on the decision.

Among the chief ministers, Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti did not turn up but had informed the BJP leadership that it is due to the murder of a senior cop in the state and the flare-up due to it.

PDP had sent a representative. Nagaland CM Shurhozelie Liezietsu also did not attend. Goa CM Manohar Parrikar cancelled his plans as he is suffering from viral fever. YSR Congress, which had announced its support to the BJP candidate, also did not send arepresentative. SP also did not send a leader though Mulayam Singh Yadav has announced his support for Kovind. The party is likely to divide its vote between Kovind and Meira Kumar.

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, Tamil Nadu CM E K Palaniswami as well as O Paneerselvam who leads the other AIADMK camp, were present. BJD had sent its vice-president Suryanarayan Patra to represent it.

Three sets of nomination papers first one has PM Narendra Modi as proposer and Home Minister Rajnath Singh as seconder, the second has BJP chief Amit Shah as proposer and finance minister Arun Jaitley as seconder and the third has Shiromani Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal as proposer and Naidu as seconder.

Each set has 60 proposers and 60 seconders. After the filing of nomination papers, Kovind said, "This high office has been graced by great men like Rajendra Prasad, Dr Radhakrishnan and APJ Abdul Kalam in the past. The country and the world is well aware of this great tradition."

He thanked the NDAled by PM Modi for supporting his candidature and said he will appeal to all members of the Electoral College to support him.

"Since the day I became governor I have had no political affiliation. I believe that the post of president should be above party politics," said Kovind, adding that he will "make every effort to maintain the dignity of the highest office".