Sonia Gandhi says presidential election is a fight against ‘divisive, communal vision’

Both Ram Nath Kovind, a former Bihar governor, and Meira Kumar, the former Lok Sabha Speaker, have held a series of meetings across states to garner support for their candidature.

A day before the presidential election, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi described on Sunday the contest as a fight against a “narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision”.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi with presidential candidate Meira Kumar and vice-presidential candidate Gopal Krishna Gandhi after the UPA meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. (PTI)

Addressing opposition leaders in the presence of their presidential and vice presidential nominees --- Meira Kumar and Gopal Krishna Gandhi, she said in these contests the numbers may be against them but “the battle must be fought and fought hard”.

“We cannot and must not let India be hostage to those who wish to impose upon it a narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision,” she said.

Election for the next President of India will be held on Monday where NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind is pitted against opposition nominee Meira Kumar.

The counting of votes will take place on July 20 in New Delhi where all the ballot boxes will be brought from various state capitals.

According to the text of Gandhi’s speech, she said, “We must stand more aware than ever of who we are, what we fought for in our independence struggle and what future we want for ourselves.

The electorate, comprising elected Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members and members of state assemblies, is tilted in favour of the NDA, but the opposition is still working to seek support of some regional parties in favour of their candidate.

She said the presence of representatives from different parties to support Kumar and Gopal Gandhi confirms that “the fight for an inclusive, tolerant and pluralistic India is being truly waged”.

The vice presidential poll will be held on August 5.