NEW DELHI: The process of filing nominations for the July 17 presidential poll began today with the Election Commission (EC) issuing a notification in this regard.
Nominations will be open until June 28.
The ruling NDA and the loosely knit opposition parties have intensified efforts to zero in on a "mutually acceptable" presidential candidate. But consensus may be elusive.
After prolonged silence on the issue, BJP chief Amit Shah earlier this week constituted a three-member committee -- comprising Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu -- which will hold consultations with NDA constituents and opposition parties on the issue.
Leaders of opposition parties will hold their own meeting this afternoon to try to come up with a consensus candidate.
The 10-member sub-group of the opposition is meeting for the first time since its constitution recently.
Sources said opposition leaders will try and come out with some possible names for the pesidential candidate.
In a bid to ensure that non-serious candidates do not file nomination for the prestigious election, the law was amended a few years ago.
Now, any candidate who is supported by 50 electors and seconded by another 50 can file nomination papers. Elected members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and elected members of state legislative assemblies are the electors.
In case both NDA and the opposition field their own candidates the election results will be announced on July 20.
The term of the present incumbent Pranab Mukherjee comes to an end on July 24.