Chandigarh: It is unfortunate that the NDA, playing the Dalit card, has chosen to make the presidential poll a caste issue rather than maintaining the dignity of the office by talking about the candidates’ capabilities, Meira Kumar, the UPA candidate for the presidential elections, told mediapersons on Sunday.

Chandigarh: It is unfortunate that the NDA, playing the Dalit card, has chosen to make the presidential poll a caste issue rather than maintaining the dignity of the office by talking about the candidates’ capabilities, Meira Kumar, the UPA candidate for the presidential elections, told mediapersons on Sunday.

“The issue of Dalits is important. However, I will not like to mix it with the elections to the post of the President of the nation. I will fight for the democratic values that India stands for. I am surprised that instead of talking about issues, the NDA has chosen to make it as if the elections are being contested on the card of caste,” Meira Kumar said.

“I respect NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind. However ideologically, we are placed on different platforms and I will contest on UPA convictions. Elections in these times are not between two persons but between two ideologies. I am in touch with the AAP, seeking support for my candidature and have also written to the party in this regard,’ she said.

On Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s comment that she was slightly late in her race, the UPA candidate said, “It is never early or late in elections. It is a question of convincing my voters about my belief and seeking their support. My candidature has been supported by 17 parties.”

President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Sunil Jakhar said, “Meira Kumar is fighting against forces (NDA) who today want to dictate to the country what they should say, speak or even wear…that is against the very basic tenets of democracy.”

Speaking to The Tribune after her meeting with Haryana MLAs, Meira Kumar said that though this was another election to the post of President, in this one, we are fighting against communalism and casteism.

Factionalism in the Haryana Congress was witnessed at today’s meeting. While party’s state president Ashok Tanwar and CLP leader Kiran Choudhry received Meira at the airport, former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda reached the venue of the meeting with 12 of the 13 MLAs owing allegiance to him.