Prez poll: BJP leaders to meet Sonia, Yechury on Friday

New Delhi, June 14
As speculation on the probable names for the next President of the country mounts, the BJP is expected to remove the suspense surrounding its choice around June 23, before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for his US tour.
The last date of filing the nominations is June 28 while the prime minister will be in the US from June 25 to June 26.
He will leave India on June 24 say the sources, adding that the BJP would announce its choice before to ensure his participation in the procedure of filing of nomination papers.
Meanwhile, the sources also say the first formal meeting of the committee comprising Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, M Venkaiah Naidu and Rajnath Singh is expected on June 16.
Though Jaitley will still be in South Korea on the day, Naidu and Rajnath Singh will meet Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi and CPM leader Sitaram Yechury on Friday to pick up a consensus candidate.
Jaitley is currently in South Korea for an economic dialogue and the 2nd annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Naidu, who today left the Capital for a visit to Vishakhapatnam, has already spoken to NCP leader Praful Patel on the issue, the sources add
BJP leaders claim that the team formulated by BJP chief Amit Shah to build a consensus on the one to succeed President Pranab Mukhrejee is “not a paper tiger”.
However, speculation arose that the “name” has already been decided by the prime minister and Shah in consensus with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, whose name was today re-floated by ally Shiv Sena as its choice for the post.
Bhagwat has already expressed his disinterest in the proposal.
The RSS is reportedly in favour of giving the top job to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Swaraj, they say, will also enjoy the blessings of veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who may just miss the race to the Raisina Hill because of various factors, including their involvement in the Babri Masjid case.
As far as other names are concerned, apart from Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu — Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik has also joined the list.
Naik enjoys the support of the Sangh like Mahajan and Swaraj.
Meanwhile BJP leaders, who say the prime minister is in favour of a consensus candidate of all parties, add that senior leaders today briefed him about the latest developments on the issue.