New Delhi: In what could be termed as a calculated but predictable strategy to counter PM Narendra Modi’s ‘masterstroke’ of nominating non-controversial Dalit leader Ram Nath Kovind for the post of President, the Congress-led Opposition yesterday pitted another Dalit leader Meira Kumar as its nominee for the highest Constitutional office in the country. The decision to field Kumar against Kovind was taken during a meet of 17 Opposition parties, which included Congress, NCP, RJD, RLD, CPI, CPI(M), DMK, National Conference, Trinamool Congress, BSP, SP, JD-S, RSP, JMM, Kerala Congress, IUML and AIUDF.
Ram Nath Kovind who hails from Kanpur is a two-term member of the Rajya Sabha, and has also served as the chief of the BJP's Scheduled Castes Morcha from 1998 to 2002. An advocate by profession, Kovind was made Governor of Bihar two years ago after the NDA took power at the Centre in May 2014.
