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New Delhi:
Communist Party of India-Marxist Politburo member Brinda Karat
took strong exception to Sushma Swaraj's reported remarks that Ansari
lacked the stature for the presidential post.
"It is inappropriate to talk about
the stature of the vice president," Brinda Karat said.
Karat also hinted that the Left may
well go the Congress' way on choosing the next president.
Another party leader said the left parties will meet May 4 to
decide on which candidate to support. The Left has also been
seeking to build consensus over a candidate.
CPI-M leader Sitaram
Yechury had earlier said that it did not matter if the candidate
was political or apolitical.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad reiterated that it
would back Vice President Ansari.
"Ansari is a capable and competent man for the top post. He should
be supported by all," Lalu Prasad said.
The Samajwadi Party (SP), which is extending outside support to
the Congress-led government, however agreed with the BJP that
Kalam was a good choice but stressed more on having a Muslim
candidate.
SP leader Kamal Farooqui also suggested the names of Chief
Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and former deputy chairman of
Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan.
"My party is discussing names. We will come out with a name very
soon... the non-NDA parties are in support of a Muslim candidate,
and as BJP is for A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, they may also support if a
good Muslim candidate is pitched," Farooqui told TV news channel
Times Now.
"Kalam saab is a good candidate... but we have not agreed on any
name so far, we are discussing it," he said.
Rift in NDA
Sushma Swaraj's remarks have also upset her own
friends.
A day after she said her party would not
support Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee or Vice President Hamid
Ansari, Janata Dal-United leader and NDA convenor Sharad Yadav
bluntly said that allies did not necessarily share her view.
"The view that Sushma-ji has expressed is their party's view.
There has not been any discussion with us or in the NDA on the
presidential candidates," Sharad Yadav told reporters.
Sushma had said her party was open to former president A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam.
Attempting to paper over the cracks, BJP spokespersons later said
Sharad Yadav was right and the views expressed by Sushma were not
of the NDA.
"Mrs. Sushma Swaraj had said it has not been discussed on NDA
forum. The line taken by both leaders are the same," party
spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
"There is no rift whatsoever between BJP and JD-U on this issue.
It's mere speculation or an interpretation, which was uncalled,"
he said.
President Pratibha Patil's term ends in the third week of July.
The UPA has over 40 percent of the total votes in the electoral
college while the NDA has less than 30 percent. Neither grouping
can elect a presidential candidate on its own electoral strength.
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