Who will be India's next President? Here's a look at the contenders

As President Pranab Mukherjee's term is nearing its completion, one question that everybody is asking - who will make it to the Rashtrapati Bhavan?

WION takes a look at some of the names that could emerge as candidates in the Presidential elections slated for next month.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi

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The former diplomat and Governor of West Bengal could become the consensus candidate for a united opposition. (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others)

Gopalkrishna Gandhi's name came upafter CPI (M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, confirmed that he had spoken to him. Gopalkrishna Gandhi who is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi has been a diplomat and served as the Governor of West Bengal. He is someone who could provide a strong pivot for an opposition unity.

Meira Kumar

The former Speaker of the Lok Sabha is one of the many names that are doing the rounds as opposition's candidate for the presidential elections. (Image source Wikimedia Commons) (Others)

The name of the former Speaker of the Lok Sabha is also doing the rounds as a possible opposition candidate. Meira Kumar is the daughter of Congress stalwart Jagjivan Ram. The opposition could make her a consensus candidate if Draupadi Murmu, who is the Jharkhand Governor and whose name is also doing the rounds as the ruling NDA's candidate, emerges as front-runner in the Presidential elections.

Sharad Yadav

Socialist leader and former president of the JD(U) Sharad Yadav's name is also in contention for the top job. (Image source: Wikipedia) (Others)

The socialist leader and former president of the Janta Dal (United) has emerged as one of the leaders the opposition could zero in as a consensus candidate. He is someone who comes with long experience as a parliamentarian. He is someone who has been vocal in his criticism of the BJP government at the Centre. But lack of support from his own party could hamper his chances as Nitish Kumar had proposed the name of the incumbent, Pranab Mukherjee, as opposition's choice for the President.

Draupadi Murmu

The Jharkhand Governor comes from a tribal community in Odisha and is seen as a strong contender for the President's position. (Zee News Network)

The Jharkhand governorhas emerged as a strong candidate in the upcoming presidential election. She comes from the Mayurbhanj district in Odisha. She belongs to a tribal community. With the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) keen on winning the Odisha assembly elections, she is being seen as a front-runner at the moment. Moreover, she is someone who would be difficult to oppose for the opposition. She has alsoserved as a legislator in the Odisha Assemblytwice.

Lal Krishna Advani

LK Advani's name is doing the rounds as the ruling NDA's presidential candidate. (Image source: Wikimedia) (Others)

The BJP stalwart and a member of BJP's 'Margdarshak'committee could figure as the NDA candidate for the presidential elections. But the Supreme Court's directive to the lower court to wrap up the proceedings against Advani and others in the Babri Masjid demolition in two years is hanging like a sword over his candidature. Moreover, the fact that he has been sidelined within the party as he and other senior BJP leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi have been accommodated in the 'Margdarshak'committee, which was constituted to provide guidance to the party, effectively puts an end to his candidature.