Prez poll: CPI(M) to take a call once NDA decides candidate

The CPI(M) today sought to side-step the issue of supporting a joint opposition nominee for the upcoming Presidential elections, saying such a decision can be taken only after the ruling BJP-led NDA decides to put up a candidate.
"It has to be a collective decision. The party (BJP) which has the highest number of votes in the collegium (electoral college) has to take the first step. ... Based on that, all other parties will (take a decision).
"However, till now there is no such initiative, nor is there any indication," CPI(M) leader Mohd Salim told reporters here.
He was replying to a question on whether the Left would put up a candidate or support a joint opposition candidate for the presidential poll.

To repeated questions including one on a Shiv Sena MP floating the name of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for the top position, he said, "Let something come out. ... Let there be some serious proposal."
Asked what if such a name crops up, he said, "Of course, then it will give an opportunity to the opposition to come together."

Salim also castigated the NDA government for clubbing major amendments on various laws, including the Competition Commission, with the Finance Bill, thereby "giving a go-by to thorough debate on such crucial legislations in Parliament".
He said there was a proposal to merge the Competition Commission of India with the National Company Law Tribunal and "both of them have completely different mandates".

Accusing the government of "minimising the importance of parliamentary norms and procedures", he said "while the government accuses the opposition of disrupting Parliament, when the Lok Sabha is running smoothly, why can't it discuss these important issues. Why are they avoiding debate?"
Targeting the Trinamool Congress, the CPI(M) MP said it was pursuing "an agenda which suits the Sangh Parivar. ... There are ample examples of that. It is a 'blow hot, blow cold' relationship with the Sangh Parivar."
He said the TMC has "toned down" its aggressive posture against the BJP after the Narada sting operation case was handed over to the CBI.

Regarding the ponzi-related scams including Saradha which have been unearthed in West Bengal, Salim said a company owned by a Rajya Sabha MP of TMC was not included in the CBI probe.
"It took them four years to lodge an FIR in the case. It was done only after the case went to the CBI. The move is to hoodwink the people, side-track the real issues and seize the enquiry," he said.
The CPI(M) leader said the main issue was to find the culprits and the beneficiaries, attaching their properties and returning the money to the investors. "All these issues are being side-tracked.