Speculation begins on Prez poll, as no alliance has enough votes

Political parties are getting down to brass tacks about whom to nominate as the next President of India, though the major Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has kept its own counsel on whether it is going to be by consensus or an election is in the offing.

Health minister and veteran Congressman, Ghulam Nabi Azad set the ball rolling when he conceded freely that as no party had a majority, it would be hard for anyone to win an election. To do so, any party must secure 51 per cent of the votes of the electoral college. Currently the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) reaches the 51 per cent mark only if its two ‘outside’ allies, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party, vote for it. And, that its troublesome constituent, the Trinamool Congress, does not break ranks.

The SP has suggested previous president Abdul Kalam, whom it preferred the last time, too. However, there is a thundering silence on the name from all others, suggesting India’s missile man might not have much political traction.

Yesterday Nationalist Congress (NC) chief Sharad Pawar had suggested a non-political candidate as President. On Monday, he modified that to an “agreed candidate”. Congress party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury declined to comment on whether the Congress would support Kalam and said, “The core group will meet and take a decision, which will then be discussed in the Cabinet and with our allies. We are listening to all our allies with an open mind.”

That Kalam had been a candidate of the BJP-led UPA for President was not lost on anybody. According to senior Congress leaders, “We are ready to work towards having a consensus candidate but that does not necessarily mean an NDA one. It can be a non-NDA consensus candidate and Congress will support it.” The core group comprises top Cabinet ministers as well as members of the Congress party, including party president Sonia Gandhi.

Pawar, also the Union agriculture minister, had also said yesterday, “I have said this much that looking at the UPA and the NDA strength, we need to have a high-level dialogue and take a decision. We need to think about an agreed candidature.”

Some names doing the rounds include Vice President Hamid Ansari, Defence Minister A K Antony and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. President Pratibha Patil's term ends on July 24. With the UPA embroiled in a series of problems, Mukherjee is close to being indispensable for the party.

Trinamool Congress sources say Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former governor of West Bengal, is being considered by them for the top job. Meanwhile, with the Parliament session resuming tomorrow and new Rajya Sabha members being inducted, politicking for the Presidential elections will soon get underway.