Delhi: Leaders of Opposition parties on Wednesday met inside the Parliament to deliberate over Presidential polls.
Leaders of nine parties met in the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, who told reporters later that no names were discussed in their meeting.
"It was a preliminary meeting. No nitty gritty nor names were discussed. All parties are totally united," he said.
Azad said even as the opposition leaders were meeting, it has been disclosed that the three-member team constituted by BJP to hold discussion with opposition parties for a consensus will meet opposition leaders including Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
"No finalisation of name is possible," he said adding the sub group of the opposition parties will meet in the next few days and discuss in detail by when the government would have also discussed with the opposition parties its choice, as per IANS.
Azad said the future discussion among the Opposition parties will depend on the candidate the ruling side choose and the party he belongs to.
"Then only we can have substantial discussions," he said.
Among those who attended the meeting in Azad's chamber were Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), Sharad Yadav, (JD-U), Praful Patel (NCP), Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), Satish Chandra Mishra (BSP), Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress), Derek O'Brien (TMC), and R.S. Bharti (DMK).
Meanwhile, earlier today, the process of filing nominations for the July 17 presidential poll began with the Election Commission issuing a notification in this regard.
The nomination process will continue till June 28.
The ruling NDA and Opposition parties have intensified efforts to zero in on a "mutually acceptable" presidential candidate. But they would go their separate ways if a consensus proves elusive, as per PTI.
After a prolonged silence on the issue, BJP chief Amit Shah has constituted a three-member committee comprising union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu which will hold consultations with the NDA allies and the opposition on the issue.
In a bid to ensure that non serious candidates do not file nomination for the prestigious election, laws were amended a few years ago.
Now, a candidate who is supported by 50 'electors' and seconded by another 50 can file nomination. Elected members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and elected members of state legislative assemblies are the electors.
If the elections are held in case both the NDA and the Opposition field their candidates, then the results will be announced on July 20.
The term of present incumbent Pranab Mukherjee comes to an end on July 24.
(With Agency inputs)
