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BJP to hold meeting this week to decide its Prez candidate

Amid the heightened political activities over the upcoming Presidential election scheduled for July 17, top BJP leaders may hold a meeting this week in the national capital. Sources said that the party top brass would also discuss the candidate with the supporting parties (NDA and other regional parties) before declaring the name. The meeting will be held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party's national president Amit Shah.

Shah also postponed his tour to Arunachal Pradesh, scheduled from Monday. While talking to Millennium Post, a senior BJP leader said, "The trip has been postponed, and the party president will be in Delhi for the next two days." But when he was asked to comment on the meeting, he refused.

Meanwhile, experts feel that it has political significance as the Election Commission has already declared the last date for making nominations on 28th of this month. Already, a list of names has emerged in media reports but BJP is opting for a 'moderate' face rather than a face from the saffron hue, which NDA ally Shiv Sena is still pitching for.

But the saffron party has decided to reach out to a bigger umbrella with regional parties like YSR Congress, AIADMK and the TRS. While speaking to media people last month here, BJP president mentioned that "Consensus is a word that is used in several ways. But we will hold discussions with everybody, including opposition parties."

The party's National Executive meeting which was scheduled for July, 15 and 16 in Vishakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh, could also be postponed due to the Presidential election. The NE meeting also has significance ahead of upcoming Assembly polls. Thus, party sources added that a meeting of NDA constituents could be called as early as next week for an NDA nominee for the post of President of India.

Opposition parties are still attempting on a joint consensus candidate, and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has pitched the idea that the government should attempt to nominate a candidate whom most parties agree on.

Left leader Sitaram Yechury said that the opposition is working on a candidate for Vice-President too. Thus, the opposition leaders will have to wait for the government to make the first move and in case the candidate is found to be unacceptable to them.
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