New Delhi: The Left parties have suggested the name of Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Gopal Krishna Gandhi, for the upcoming Presidential polls. He has sought time to think over the matter. Sources said, the Left parties in their meeting with Sharad Pawar on Tuesday, suggested the name of the former West Bengal governor. Pawar wasn’t averse to the suggestion. His name is likely to be proposed at today’s meeting. Gandhi was the consensus opposition candidate for the post of vice-president of India in 2017, but had lost to M Venkaiah Naidu in the election. The 77-year-old former bureaucrat has also served as India’s High Commissioner to South Africa and Sri Lanka. He is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and C Rajagopalachari. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has convened a meeting of various opposition parties to deliberate on the opposition’s choice of the presidential nominee. Some leaders have proposed the name of NCP patron Sharad Pawar, but the veteran leader has declined to contest. The election to elect a successor to incumbent Ram Nath Kovind would be held on July 18. Kovind had defeated joint opposition nominee Meira Kumar in the last presidential poll.
