Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were present on the occasion.

The Opposition parties' presidential candidate Meira Kumar filed her nomination in New Delhi on Wednesday at the Secretary General's office in Parliament. Ms. Kumar went in shortly after 11 a.m. and returned around 11.30 a.m.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh followed her out after the filing of nomination, after which they made their way to Ms. Gandhi's room for a meeting.

Asked before leaving the Parliament soon after noon what the fight for secularism meant for her in this context, Ms. Kumar told reporters, "We are fighting the same battle that Mahatma Gandhi was fighting."

An array of Opposition leaders were present in the Parliament on the occasion. Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Ashok Gehlot, C.P. Joshi, Rajeev Shukla, Sachin Pilot, Raj Babbar, Ashok Tanwar and and Deepender Singh Hooda could be seen among those waiting outside the Secretary General's room as the filing of papers took place.

Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D. Raja and BSP leader Satish Mishra also accompanied Ms. Kumar.