New Delhi: The Election Commission of India announced on Wednesday that the Presidential poll will be held on July 19 this year and the counting will take place on July 21.
The notification for the polls is due to be issued on June 16.
The last date for filing of nominations will be June 30, scrutiny on July 2 and last date for withdrawal will be July 4.
Meanwhile, the race for the president’s post has political parties in the country in a frenzy.
While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has announced that her party will support UPA candidate in the Presidential race and ruled out any possibility of supporting NDA’s choice, she has said her party will not side with the “communal forces.”
Mayawati also said that her Monday night dinner with Congress President Sonia Gandhi had resulted in a consensus emerging on the Presidential candidate issue and that Sonia will announce the name soon.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Shivraj Patil has emerged as the frontrunner after the Congress indicated that it would be difficult to de-engage Pranab Mukherjee from his role in the Government as the External Affairs Minister.
However, it seems to be clear that many UPA allies like the Left and NCP and the Shiv Sena are not enthusiastic about the possible candidature of Patil for the post of President.
The other strong contender for the post is Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. On BJP's part, the party had made it clear a few days ago that that Singh Shekhawat, the man who everyone thought will be NDA's choice, cannot actually be a party candidate.
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