Gandhi’s grandson withdraws from the presidential election, dealing a blow to India’s opposition.

•  the grandson of India’s freedom leader Mahatma Gandhi, withdrew out of the contest
• He said he wanted to “foster national consensus in addition to Opposition unity”
• For July 18, national and state lawmakers will vote on a new president.

After a coalition of opposition parties presented his name for president, the grandson of India’s freedom leader Mahatma Gandhi withdrew out of the contest.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi, a 77-year-old diplomat who later became a politician, said he had denied the 17-party alliance’s request to be their choice for the purely ceremonial position.

“I owe them a debt of gratitude. However, after much thought, I believe that the Opposition’s nominee should be someone who will foster national consensus and a national mood in addition to Opposition unity “On Monday, Gandhi issued a statement.

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For July 18, national and state lawmakers will vote on a new president.

The Indian head of state has some constitutional rights, although he or she mostly acts on the advice of the government, making it more of a ceremonial role.

However, deciding on a candidate and getting him or her elected would be a symbolic success for India’s fractured opposition after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party ruled for eight years (BJP).

The BJP is expected to name its own candidate this week, and the incumbent, Ram Nath Kovind, a member of India’s marginalised Dalit group, may be re-nominated for a second term.

Gandhi stood for vice-president in 2017 but lost to a BJP candidate after serving as governor of West Bengal from 2004 to 2009. He was selected by the then-ruling Congress party.

Modi’s Hindu nationalist policies have been criticised by the paternal grandson of India’s independence movement icon, who has accused the government of stifling dissent in the world’s largest democracy.

Gandhi is the third individual to turn down the opposition’s offer to run for president.

The Gandhi family, which includes deceased former prime ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, as well as current opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, is descended from India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, rather than Mahatma Gandhi.

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