Bardhan Calls For Uf Panel Meet

The Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary, A B Bardhan, yesterday called for an emergency meeting of the United Front steering committee to discuss important issues including the presidential poll, proposed oil price hike and women's quota bill.

The meeting should be convened soon after the issuing of the notification for the presidential poll to decide a consensus candidate, Bardhan told newsmen here. Though it is the subject of the UF to decide a consensus candidate, we prefer K R Narayanan, the Vice-President, for the top constitutional post, he said.

Narayanan is a learned, sobre and impartial Vice-President belonging to the scheduled caste community and he can be the best candidate for the presidential election, he said in reply to a question.

Bardhan said he would discuss the matter with the CPM general secretary, Harkishen Singh Surjeet, on his arrival from abroad on June 10. The CPI leader said the former chief election commissioner, T N Sheshan, has so far been the lone self-styled aspirant for the top post and not a single party has announced its support to him.