New Delhi: Yashwant Sinha, a veteran politician, who quit TMC on Tuesday, has been unanimously selected by the Opposition parties as to the joint candidate for the post of the President. Making the announcement, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "We (opposition parties) have unanimously decided that Yashwant Sinha will be the common candidate of the Opposition for the Presidential elections." The Presidential polls are scheduled for July 18.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the opposition parties will file the nomination on June 27. "We are going to file the nomination for the Presidential elections on 27th June at 11.30 am," said Pawar at the Opposition meet. Congratulating Sinha on being selected for the task, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee tweeted: "Heartiest congratulations to Yashwant Sinha ji for being chosen as the joint Opposition candidate for the upcoming Presidential Elections. It is my firm belief that for all progressive parties who share the same vision for our nation, there could not have been a better choice!"
Also read: Yashwant Sinha quits TMC, to work for larger national cause
Earlier in the day, Sinha had put out a tweet hinting at the development. "I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now the time has come for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater Opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step,” the 84-year-old leader tweeted.
The former Finance Minister served under the Vajpayee-led Cabinet at a time when the NDA government had Mamata Banerjee as the Railway Minister. Yashwant Sinha left the BJP in 2018 and joined Mamata's camp in March 2021.
