Meira Kumar vs Ram Nath Kovind: Behind Nitish Kumar's Presidential Gambit

Just when you thought the Presidential election was all done and dusted, the opposition which looked in disarray, has got a new lifeline even though the numbers are clearly not with them. They have announced Meira Kumar - the first woman speaker - as their unanimous nominee. Nitish Kumar broke ranks with both his allies Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Congress to back Ram Nath Kovind, the BJP's nominee for President. His decision has been a huge setback for the opposition. It is seen by many as a notice to Lalu, with whom Nitish Kumar forged an uneasy alliance to defeat the BJP in the Bihar assembly elections two years ago.