The BJP on Sunday said party president J.P. Nadda and defence minister Rajnath Singh had been authorised to hold consultations for the upcoming President’s election, not only with NDA partners but also with the wider Opposition and Independents.

The move is being seen as political posturing for a consensus candidate.

“Keeping in mind the upcoming President’s election, the BJP has authorised party president J.P. Nadda and defence minister Rajnath Singh for consultations. Along with the constituents of the NDA and the UPA, they will also hold talks with other parties and Independents,” a statement from the party said, adding that they would start the talks soon.

The poll panel announced last week that election, if needed (if there is no consensus), for the next President would be held on July 18.

The BJP statement refrained from stating directly that the two senior leaders would hold talks to arrive at a consensus on the name of the next President, understandably because the ruling party knows well that it was an almost impossible task.

JP Nadda. File picture

BJP leaders said that while their party favoured a consensus over the next President and since it was difficult to achieve, the consultations would aim to garner maximum support for the NDA candidate.

The BJP’s statement comes against the backdrop of the party’s rivals starting an exercise to put up a joint candidate of the Opposition for the election scheduled for July 18.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has held preliminary talks with some key Opposition leaders. Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee too has called a meeting of Opposition parties in Delhi on Wednesday on the President’s election.

The BJP’s aim in picking veteran leader Rajnath, apart from party chief Nadda, is to use his experience and cross-party rapport to win over parties outside the NDA and UPA fold like the BJD in Odisha and the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh.

Rajnath’s old association with restive ally and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar will also be used to ensure he backs the BJP candidate. The JDU boss had voted for UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee while being in the NDA.

In the last President’s election (2017) too, Rajnath was part of the three-member team appointed by the party for consultations.

The Opposition can pose a challenge to the BJP in the President’s election if different parties unite, apparently a difficult thing to achieve.