国际英语新闻:India's ruling party presidential nominee files nomination for election

NEW DELHI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- India's ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind on Friday filed his nomination for the upcoming presidential election, officials said.

"Office of president is the highest constitutional post and in the past it has been adorned by eminent personalities like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr Radhkrishnan, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam," Kovind told reporters while filing his papers for the election.

Apart from BJP, Kovind's candidature is supported by parties in BJP -led National Democratic Alliance.

Kovind thanked people who supported his candidature and said he would try to maintain the dignity of the post.

"Office of President is not a political post and it should be kept beyond politics," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, BJP veterans Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, Chief Ministers of some BJP ruled states and NDA allies ruled states and the heads of some other parties supporting Kovind's candidature were present on the occasion.

The opposition parties have nominated former speaker Meira Kumar for the post. She is likely to file her nomination on May 27.

The presidential election is scheduled to be held on July 17.

For presidential elections in India, the electorate, comprises of lawmakers from both lower and upper house of Indian parliament and elected members of state assemblies.

Analysts said BJP having enough numbers has an edge in choosing the next president in India.