YSR Congress, To begin with the Election Commission announcing the presidential election on Thursday, the spotlight is on YSR Congress and Biju Janata Dal as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is just short of the halfway mark.
Presidential Election’s Voting Date Scheduled For July 18 And Counting On July 21(YSR Congress):
Subsequently, June 29 is the last date for candidates to file papers. A Voting Process Scheduled From July 18, 2022. While PM Modi will have the final word on deciding the presidential candidate, support from YSRCP or BJD would pave the way for NDA’s nominee in the race for the country’s top office. Recently, YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik; had met Modi in Delhi, although it is not clear what transpired during the meeting. The two regional parties have maintained a low profile; both went with BJP in backing Ramnath Kovind in 2017.
Consequently, based on the current arithmetic, NDA is around 13,000 votes short and support from either BJD, which has over 31,000 votes in the electoral college, or YSRCP (over 43,000 votes) will ensure smooth sailing for the BJP-led alliance. NDA is estimated to have 5.26 lakh votes out of a possible 10.79 lakh in the electoral college, comprising elected members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and the state legislatures. The numbers could change after the ongoing Rajya Sabha polls, but probably not enough to change the big picture.NDA has the option to renominate Kovind, field vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu. who is seen as a potential candidate or; like last time when it fielded a Dalit face from Patna Raj Bhawan, spring a surprise.
BJP, the saffron party’s position precariously placed ahead of the presidential elections:
Although BJP numbers have significantly increased in the Lok Sabha, its changed equations with the regional parties and reduced strength in several state assemblies have led to its reliance on regional parties such as YSRCP and BJP. The party has severed ties with Shiv Sena, and Akali Dal; while AIADMK members occupy fewer benches in the Tamil Nadu assembly. The saffron party won the Uttar Pradesh polls this year, but its numbers have reduced. Besides, it has suffered losses in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and also in Madhya Pradesh; compared to the numbers it had in the 2017 presidential polls