New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam on Thursday said the Congress had reached out to him to discuss a "common candidate" for the upcoming presidential election.

Elections for the next president of India will be held on July 18 with 4,809 electors comprising MPs and MLAs voting to elect incumbent Ram Nath Kovind's successor, the Election Commission has announced.

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"Mallikarjun Khargeji called and consulted about a common candidate for the presidential election. I told him that the CPI would support a common candidate with secular credentials and progressive outlook. He replied that Madam Soniaji and the Congress Party also have the same position," Viswam said in a tweet.

CPI general secretary D Raja added that no overtures have been received by the party from the Congress or any other Opposition party for a consensus candidate for the polls yet.

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Going by its strength in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as well as in many state assemblies, the BJP is in a comfortable position to ensure the victory of the candidate nominated by it.

Kovind's term ends on July 24 and an election for the next president has to be held before then.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)