Sharad Pawar opts out of presidential race at opposition meeting called by Mamata Banerjee

“We all opposition parties want Sharad Pawar to become the candidate but if he doesn’t agree to contest, we will discuss and decide. This is just the beginning,” said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had called the all-party meet.

At the meeting, which was skipped by five major political parties of the opposition, Pawar declined the offer.

Sharad Pawar, 81, had earlier shut down speculations about his candidature, media reports said, adding that the sources had said he was unwilling to fight a "losing battle". In today's meeting, he made it clear.

In the meeting, Pawar was sitting in the center flanked by Congress's Mallikarjun Karge and Mamata Banerjee.

There was also some chaos over an attempt by Mamata Banerjee to pass a resolution taking on the BJP-led government at the Centre, which the other parties said was not circulated for consultation in advance.

Other parties also said that the meeting was to discuss the presidential election and no other issue.

According to reports, Mamata Banerjee met Sharad Pawar last evening and proposed his name as soon as the meeting started.

When he refused, she suggested the names of Gopal Gandhi and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah.

The presidential elections will take place on July 18 and the results will be declared on July 21.

June 29 is the last date for nominations.

Pawar's candidature was being supported by many parties, including Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, Left, the Congress, and the Shiv Sena.

Mamata Banerjee also said that the opposition needed to sit together to discuss "the bulldozing taking place in the country."

The meeting was skipped by the Akali Dal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Jagan Reddy's YSR Congress.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS)'s K Chandrashekhar Rao, who had earlier bonded with Mamata Banerjee to oppose the BJP, decided to boycott the meeting.