Presidential Election 2017: Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi can be Opposition’s candidate, Meira Kumar also in fray

New Delhi, May 11: Consensus appears to be building around former diplomat and governor, Gopalkrishna Gandhi among Opposition ranks for presidential elections candidacy. Discussions are happening about other candidates as well, however, Gandhi is the front-runner. He has confirmed that he has been approached by the Opposition. However, he declined to divulge any further details.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi told the Indian Express that he had been spoken to but the conversation was of preliminary nature.However, sources told the newspaper that a broad consensus may form over his name as the presidential candidate. Many parties, including the TMC, are keen on his name as against other leaders. Congress President Sonia Gandhi and CPIM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury have reportedly spoken to Gandhi.

Names of other leaders are also being discussed as Opposition’s joint candidate. JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, NCP’s Sharad Pawar, and Congress party’s Miera Kumar’s names are also coming up. However, two names have prominently come up–Miera Kumar and Gopalkrishna Gandhi. Though, other parties don’t want a Congressman to be their consensus candidate. The Congress party is also not pushing the envelope on the matter as it wants the Opposition unity intact. (Also read: Presidential elections 2017: Jagan Mohan Reddy meets PM Modi, says YSRC will support BJP’s President choice)

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is running from pillar to post to build consensus among anti-BJP parties. She has already met a number of leaders and will meet others including Mamata Banerjee. A decision on a common candidate will go a long way as it could be the precursor to a broad anti-BJP alliance for 2019 General Elections.

Who is Gopalkrishna Gandhi?

Gopalkrishna Gandhi has illustrious antecedents. His paternal grandfather is Mahatma Gandhi and his maternal grandfather is C Rajagopalachari. He is the youngest son of Devdas Gandhi and Lakshmi. He is the brother of noted writer Rajmohan Gandhi. He himself has had a great career.

He has done his masters from St Stephen’s College and served as an IAS officer from 1968 to 1992. He has also been Indian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Lesotho and Sri Lanka. He was India’s ambassador to Norway in 2002. He served as the Governor to West Bengal from 2004 to 2009. Like his brother, he also took to writing as he translated Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy into Hindi. He has also written a novel. He was approached by Mamata Banerjee for vice-presidential candidacy in 2012, which he declined.