NDA's Presidential Candidate Ram Nath Kovind Files His Nomination Papers:- The Presidential candidate of NDA Ram Nath Kovind filed his nomination in New Delhi today, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Chief Ministers and party leaders of NDA-ruled states.

Also present during the filing of nominations were BJP President Amit Shah and party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. Except Manohar Parrikar of Goa and Mehbooba Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, all the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and its allies. Among those, who were present was Telangana chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Apart from the NDA constituents, the regional parties such as the AIADMK, BJD, TRS and JD (U) have announced their support of the Dalit leader, making his win an almost foregone conclusion. The NDA constituents comprise over 48.6% of votes in the electoral college that will elect the next president.

A BJP source said the Dalit leader is guaranteed to get more than 61% of the votes and the final tally depends on how some still undecided regional parties vote. Yesterday, a group of Opposition parties announced that Speaker Meira Kumar, also a Dalit leader, would be fielded against Kovind. The Presidential Election is scheduled for July 17, while the counting of votes will take place on July 20. On July 24, the term of the President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee will end. Once elected, Kovind will become the second Dalit to occupy the highest constitutional office. K R Narayanan was the first Dalit Leader, who was in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1997-2002.

After the NDA came to power in May 2014, Kovind (71) was made the Bihar Governor in 2015. His nomination by the BJP is now being seen as a "political masterstroke". Kovind enjoys a clean reputation and has steered clear of any controversy in his over 26-year-old political career. The background of the Dalit Leader makes him a good political choice for the Saffron party, which is working overtime to woo Dalits.

SUPRAJA