West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed names of Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah for the post of President of India at a crucial Opposition meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting was convened by the Trinamool Congress supremo to build consensus on fielding a joint candidate against the NDA in the presidential election.

Leaders of at least 17 national and regional parties attended the meeting.

Maharashtra leader Sharad Pawar turned down Banerjee’s offer to be the opposition’s Presidential candidate, saying he “still has an active political innings to play” and that he was reluctant to fight “a losing battle.”

Mamata Banerjee, who met Pawar last night, proposed his name as soon as the meeting began. When he refused, she put forward two candidates, former Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah.

The presidential elections will be held on July 18 and the results will be announced on July 21.The deadline for nominations is June 29.