New Delhi: NDA convenor Sharad Yadav met the BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday in connection with her statement on Monday that the NDA opposed Congress’s Presidential nominees Pranab Mukherjee and Hamid Ansari.

Yadav had reacted sharply to her comments saying that she had no right to speak on behalf of the NDA. Swaraj reportedly clarified her statement to Sharad Yadav in the meeting.

Sources said both parties have agreed to be silent on the issue till a meeting of the NDA is held and a final call is made on the presidential candidate. “What Swaraj had said was BJP’s view. The matter had not been discussed with other NDA partners, including JD(U). A meeting of NDA will be held soon to discuss the matter,” a senior BJP leader said.

JD(U) has reportedly conveyed to BJP that Swaraj’s comments against Ansari has put the party in difficulty in Bihar where the two are part of the ruling alliance. JD(U) has been wooing the sizable minority community in the state and her comments would antagonise them.

JD(U)’s main political adversary RJD was the first to publicly say that Ansari can be a candidate for President. RJD chief Lalu Prasad has decided to throw his weight behind Hamid Ansari for the President’s post.

Meanwhile, BJP President Nitin Gadkari hit out at the Congress for not reaching out to the BJP for a concensus on who should be the next President.
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