Prez polls: Ram Jethmalani to enter race against Pranab

Eminent lawyer and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Jethmalani on Saturday launched himself in the race to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Opposing Pranab Mukherjee's candidature, Jethmalani said that he will not let the fiance minister become the President unopposed.

"I might lose, but will still contest Presidential poll if the BJP decides to back Pranab. He does not deserve to be the president."

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"Pranab is a friend, but I oppose his candidature... He hasn't revealed names of black money holders," said Jethmalani, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, the BJP core group met on Saturday evening at party president Nitin Gadkari's residence to decide its strategy before it consults with its allies on whether to support Mukherjee or not.

There is a section within the NDA, particularly the Janata Dal-United, which is of the view that a contest against Mukherjee should be avoided as there could be embarrassment for the coalition. The NDA leaders will meet in Delhi at 11 am on Sunday finalise the coalition's position on the issue.

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