05-10-2007, 08:13 PM
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Congress begins to plot presidential race
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
Consults Left, proposes Shinde, Karan, Pranab
The Congress has floated the names of three probable candidates to succeed President APJ Abdul Kalam. Topping the list is former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, followed by Karan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Sources said that during his meeting with CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and his CPI counterpart AB Bardhan last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had placed these three names for the Left's consideration.
Sources said that the Left leaders told the PM that they would get back to him after holding discussion with other Left Front partners. However, a senior Left leader told The Pioneer that they had serious differences over Karan Singh's candidature in view of his pro-Hindutva leaning.
While the Left is yet to formalise its response, which may also include alternative suggestions, Shinde's candidature may not please the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). A protégé of NCP president Sharad Pawar, Shinde is now his political rival. His candidature is being seen as an attempt by the Congress to counter Pawar's populalarity in Maharashtra.
On Pranab Mukherjee Congress leaders feel that that fact that he is placed third in the list shows that the party high command would consider him only if consensus could not be evolved on the names of Shinde and Karan Singh.
"If Sonia Gandhi was serious about Mukherjee, the Left would have little reason to reject him," said a senior Congress leader.
Sources said that Congress feel that Shinde would be the best person to hold the post of President because of his Dalit identity and vast administrative experience as Chief Minister, Governor and Union Minister.
Even though the Congress is trying to evolve a consensus on the name of a probable candidate, the party is jittery about the prospect of facing Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as the NDA candidate.
The Samajwadi Party's public declaration not to back a Congress candidate has added to the problem of the UPA. " If the SP sticks to its position, then it could be a touch and go affair," said a senior Congress leader.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) on Wednesday said it would be ideal to have a consensus secular candidate for the top post.
"Ideally, it will be good to have a consensus secular candidate... who will have impeccable secular credentials", party Polit Buro member Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.
To a specific query whether the Left was open to putting up its own candidate, he said all such questions would be answered only after May 11, when the electoral outcome in Uttar Pradesh would be known. Noting that Uttar Pradesh was a "powerful element", he said the party would see the composition of the State Assembly as the value of each vote there was 203, compared with 25 of Arunachal Pradesh.
Asked about the meeting Karat had with the Prime Minister recently, he said Singh started consultations with UPA allies and the Left parties on the Presidential elections. The party wanted the next President to be a 'distinguished' person with "impeccable secular credentials".
Yechury emphasised that the office of the President was a very important office and it had added significance in the current era of coalition.
He said the CPI(M) would apply its mind on the issue only after the UP poll result was out as it would "influence the character of the electoral college. Before that, everything can only be speculation".
Congress begins to plot presidential race
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
Consults Left, proposes Shinde, Karan, Pranab
The Congress has floated the names of three probable candidates to succeed President APJ Abdul Kalam. Topping the list is former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, followed by Karan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Sources said that during his meeting with CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and his CPI counterpart AB Bardhan last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had placed these three names for the Left's consideration.
Sources said that the Left leaders told the PM that they would get back to him after holding discussion with other Left Front partners. However, a senior Left leader told The Pioneer that they had serious differences over Karan Singh's candidature in view of his pro-Hindutva leaning.
While the Left is yet to formalise its response, which may also include alternative suggestions, Shinde's candidature may not please the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). A protégé of NCP president Sharad Pawar, Shinde is now his political rival. His candidature is being seen as an attempt by the Congress to counter Pawar's populalarity in Maharashtra.
On Pranab Mukherjee Congress leaders feel that that fact that he is placed third in the list shows that the party high command would consider him only if consensus could not be evolved on the names of Shinde and Karan Singh.
"If Sonia Gandhi was serious about Mukherjee, the Left would have little reason to reject him," said a senior Congress leader.
Sources said that Congress feel that Shinde would be the best person to hold the post of President because of his Dalit identity and vast administrative experience as Chief Minister, Governor and Union Minister.
Even though the Congress is trying to evolve a consensus on the name of a probable candidate, the party is jittery about the prospect of facing Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as the NDA candidate.
The Samajwadi Party's public declaration not to back a Congress candidate has added to the problem of the UPA. " If the SP sticks to its position, then it could be a touch and go affair," said a senior Congress leader.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) on Wednesday said it would be ideal to have a consensus secular candidate for the top post.
"Ideally, it will be good to have a consensus secular candidate... who will have impeccable secular credentials", party Polit Buro member Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.
To a specific query whether the Left was open to putting up its own candidate, he said all such questions would be answered only after May 11, when the electoral outcome in Uttar Pradesh would be known. Noting that Uttar Pradesh was a "powerful element", he said the party would see the composition of the State Assembly as the value of each vote there was 203, compared with 25 of Arunachal Pradesh.
Asked about the meeting Karat had with the Prime Minister recently, he said Singh started consultations with UPA allies and the Left parties on the Presidential elections. The party wanted the next President to be a 'distinguished' person with "impeccable secular credentials".
Yechury emphasised that the office of the President was a very important office and it had added significance in the current era of coalition.
He said the CPI(M) would apply its mind on the issue only after the UP poll result was out as it would "influence the character of the electoral college. Before that, everything can only be speculation".