Opposition unity falters as parties back Ram Nath Kovind's candidature

In the coming days, more parties are likely to extend their support to the NDA candidate

The Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), is likely to vote for the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA’s) candidate, Ram Nath Kovind, Bihar Governor and Dalit leader, for the presidential election.
 
The party is in power, along with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), in Bihar. Its support for the NDA candidate would compromise the unity of the 17 Opposition parties.
 
On Monday, after the NDA announced Kovind’s candidature Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar had said his performance as the state’s governor was “exemplary”.
 
Communist Party of India (Marxist) chief Sitaram Yechury tried to reason with him on