NEW DELHI, June 7 - Polls to elect the 15th President of India will be held on July 17 for which the nomination process will begin from June 14 with the issuance of a notification, the Election Commission announced today.
The counting of votes will take place on July 20 in New Delhi where all the ballot boxes will be brought.
Both the ruling NDA and the Opposition are yet to open their cards on the Presidential candidate. While the ruling alliance is likely to announce its nominee soon, the Opposition is seeking to unite all non-NDA parties under a common platform to put up a consensus candidate for the Presidential election.
As per the schedule, June 28 is the last day for nominations, while a candidate can withdraw from the electoral battle till July 1. If there is no consensus between the NDA and the Opposition, the number of serious candidates in the fray will be clear by July 1 evening.
Various Opposition parties have already held deliberations and decided to set up a sub-group that is likely to meet within a week to build consensus on a joint candidate.
The electorate, comprising elected Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members and members of State assemblies, is tilted in favour of the NDA, but the Opposition is also out to woo regional parties to support their candidate. � PTI
