Yashwant Sinha ‘steps aside’ from TMC ahead of opposition meet on presidential pick

Sinha, a former Union minister and BJP leader, had joined the TMC last year. The opposition is expected to hold a second meeting Tuesday to decide on a Presidential name.

Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha joins Trinamool Congress on 13 March, 2021 in Kolkata | Twitter/ANI

Kolkata: Ahead of the opposition huddle in New Delhi Tuesday to decide on a unanimous presidential candidate for the July election, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national vice president Yashwant Sinha has declared that he is “stepping aside” from the party “to work for greater opposition unity”, signalling his likely nomination to the post.

Sinha’s declaration came on the day the opposition parties are meeting in the national capital to finalise their candidate for the presidential election next month. All the three leaders whose names were previously floated by the opposition as potential candidates — Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah and Gopal Krishna Gandhi — have declined to contest.

The numbers for the Presidential election are stacked in favour of the NDA with BJP and its allies comfortably placed to ensure the victory of their candidate.

Sinha took to Twitter Tuesday, stating, “I am grateful to Mamata ji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now, a time has come when for a larger national cause, I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step.”

Later speaking to ThePrint, he said, “I haven’t yet spoken to Mamata Banerjee, but I might go for the meeting this afternoon. There is still time for the nomination which is due next week.”

The former Union minister and BJP leader joined the Trinamool Congress in Kolkata on 15 March last year. Sinha was given national vice president post within the party at a time when TMC was looking to spread its wings nationally. Sinha also played an active role during the recent Goa assembly election, but the party drew a blank.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar will be chairing the second opposition meeting Tuesday at the Parliament house. On March 11, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had first initiated an opposition meeting in New Delhi to strategise on a common candidate while showcasing an united opposition.

Although the Presidential election is being seen as a litmus test for opposition unity to decide on a unanimous name, only 16 out of 22 parties who were requested to join the first meeting took part. This time around, the AIMIM is also going to join the opposition meeting.