Cong likely to attend Oppn meet called by Mamata

The Congress is likely to attend the meeting of political parties convened by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday for deliberations over a joint opposition candidate for the post of President, sources said.

They said Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Surjewala may attend the meeting on behalf of the party.

Banerjee has convened the meeting on June 15 at the Constitution Club in the national capital for discussions to come out with a consensus Opposition candidate.

Several opposition parties are likely to attend the meeting and take forward the discussion on the joint candidate.

The election of the President of India will be held on July 18.

With numbers on its side, the ruling National Democratic Alliance has half the votes of the electorate and its candidate can make it through easily with the support of some independent parties like the Biju Janata Dal, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and YSR Congress.