Azad goes to Patna to meet Nitish, Lalu

Ahead of JD-U's meeting to decide the party stance on the presidential poll, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad rushed to Patna on Tuesday for discussions with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Lalu Prasad on the opposition strategy for presidential election.

Congress sources said that Azad has gone to Patna to attend an Iftar being organised by the state party unit and is likely to meet leaders of the ruling Janata Dal-United and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

JD-U leaders will meet on Wednesday to decide party's stance on the President's election in which the NDA has decided to field Ram Nath Kovind as its candidate. Kovind resigned as Bihar Governor on Tuesday.

Nitish Kumar had on Monday showered praise on Kovind after he was named NDA candidate, saying he is "personally glad" over his candidature.

The 18-party opposition front led by the Congress is slated to meet on June 22 to finalise its strategy for presidential election.

While Lalu Prasad is expected to go with the decision of the opposition front, there apprears some uncertainty among non-BJP parties about the stance of JD-U because of of the fact that Kumar has a propensity to strike a different path like he did on issues like demonetisation.

--IANS

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