Lalu pushes Ansari's name for post of president

Lily

B.R
Staff member
New Delhi: The churning continues for the presidential polls with various political leaders suggesting candidates even as their parties seek to gauge the mood and keep their cards to themselves.

Following in the footsteps of Sharad Pawar, agriculture minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief, who called for an "agreed candidate", in light of major political groupings have failed to get their candidates accepted, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad yesterday pushed Hamid Ansari's name for the post of president.

Ansari's name has also been mentioned, albeit in unofficial channels, by some Congress leaders as a suitable choice though the party is yet to begin formal discussions on its presidential candidate.

Pawar's comments had triggered speculation about former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam emerging as a consensus candidate.

Samajwadi Party leader Shahid Seddiqi added to the speculation, stating that his party was not averse to Abdul Kalam's name if there was consensus.

However, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav yesterday made it clear that discussions on the presidential nominee were yet to be held and termed Seddiqi's comments as his "personal opinion".

"We can't say anything... No talks have started till now and what is the hurry?... There is lot of time for [the] presidential election," Mulayam Singh said.

Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati also spoke on the same lines, saying it was too early to comment.

"Let the candidate be decided first... Lets see who is the candidate, only after that we can comment," she said.

Other names doing the rounds as possible candidates include those of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Congress MP Karan Singh and Speaker Meira Kumar.

Among the "apolitical" names doing the rounds are those of technocrat Sam Pitroda and Infosys' N.R. Narayana Murthy.

Congress leaders said that "serious discussions" on the choice of candidate are likely to start after the budget session. Party MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi said formal discussions had not started.

"We would like to have an appropriate and effective president. We would like to see consensus built around a suitable candidate," Chaturvedi said, adding talks will be held with allies and possibly the opposition also.

"Of course we will take our allies into confidence. As and when the necessity arises we shall explore other avenues."
 
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