Gehlot suggests Kovind President because of caste, then backtracks

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Wednesday suggested that the NDA picked Ram Nath Kovind over L K Advani as its nominee for the President's post because of his caste, prompting a sharp response from the BJP.

Under flak, Gehlot later tweeted that he was misquoted and said he has the greatest regard for President Kovind.

At a press conference in Jaipur, Gehlot had linked Kovind's appointment as President to the Gujarat polls.

"People even say that Ram Nath Kovind was made president considering Gujarat assembly elections in 2017, Gehlot said.

I was reading an article. He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) was afraid that he was not going to form the government in Gujarat. BJP chief Amit Shah might have given him the suggestion after which it was decided to make Ram Nath Kovind the President," the Congress leader said.

"Advani was left out though he was to become the President. People of the country had the expectation that he will get the honour that he deserved but was deprived of, ...