New Delhi: Yashwant Sinha, the presidential candidate for the opposition, contacted the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ask for their support in the upcoming elections on July 18, news agency PTI reported.
Additionally, Sinha also called Hemant Soren, the chief minister of Jharkhand, and reminded him of the pledge the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) made when he was named the joint opposition candidate for the presidential elections.
"We have begun our campaign in earnest and will reach out to everyone to seek their support in the election," sources in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were quoted by PTI in its report.
They said Sinha called the offices of Singh and PM Modi and left messages seeking their support for his candidacy.
The former Union Minister made contact with BJP leader and mentor LK Advani as well.
In front of prominent opposition leaders, Sinha is due to submit his candidacy papers on Monday.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu, who submitted her candidacy papers on Friday, is thought to have the backing of the JMM and the Janata Dal (Secular), both of which are led by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.
It was revealed that Soren is leaning toward Murmu, a member of the Santhal group, compelling Sinha, who was scheduled to open his presidential campaign from his native state of Jharkhand on Friday, to postpone it.
In the meanwhile, Sinha sent a letter to all the opposition leaders announcing that he will be their joint candidate in the elections on July 18.
"I assure you -- and the people of India -- that, if elected, I shall conscientiously uphold, without fear or favour, the basic values and guiding ideals of the Indian Constitution," Sinha was quoted by PTI in its report.
He stated that he intends to visit as many state capitals as he can after submitting his candidacy paperwork on Monday.
"I hope to meet you as well as the MPs and MLAs belonging to your party to seek your support and guidance," he said in the letter.
(With Inputs From PTI)