Meira Kumar, opposition parties’ presidential candidate, on Thursday urged Uttarakhand legislators to vote according to their conscience instead of party lines.
Meira Kumar, a Congress leader and former Lok Sabha speaker, is challenging Ram Nath Kovind, nominee of the ruling NDA, in the July 17 presidential poll.
The diplomat-turned-politician, who was in Dehradun on Thursday to garner support for her candidature, said her fight in the election was based on values and principles of polity.
Meira Kumar, who hails from Bihar, skipped a question if she will seek vote from JD-U leader Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of her native state.
The JD-U, a Congress ally, broke ranks with the opposition to support Kovind, virtually paving the way for the BJP to sail through in the presidential election.
“The constitution has guided and elevated us in times of crisis and confusion. The constitution recognises office of the president as being the final touchstone for the passage of laws,” said Meira Kumar.
“Therefore, it (office of the president) cannot function to serve narrow political interests,” she said without taking names of the BJP and its ideological parent RSS.
“As honourable members of the collegiums (that elects India’s president), you have the unique privilege to make history. This is the moment when one should heed to conscience and set course of the nation,” she appealed to MPs and MLAs from Uttarakhand.
{{/usCountry}}“As honourable members of the collegiums (that elects India’s president), you have the unique privilege to make history. This is the moment when one should heed to conscience and set course of the nation,” she appealed to MPs and MLAs from Uttarakhand.
{{/usCountry}}President was the highest morale authority for protecting the constitution and once elected he or she ceases to be a political party member, Meira Kumar told the media.