Left to decide on Presidential polls on May 16

New Delhi, May 14: The Left parties will decide their "commonposition" on the Presidential elections here on Wednesday, while notruling out the possibility of a Left candidate for the race.

"Nothing is ruled out.. anything is possible, but the UPA- Lefthas so far not zeroed on any name," CPI(M) senior leader Mohammad Salimtold newspersons adding that the four Left parties- the CPI(M), CPI,Forward Bloc and RSP- are meeting here to evolve a "common position" onthe issue The Left leader denied any differences even among the Leftparties on the subject, saying that they would come out with a"commonstrategy" on May 16.

The CPI(M) leader's comment came in response to the scribes' querywhether the two prominent political personalites from West Bengal,could be fielded as the successor of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, whose termis expiring on July 24.

Mr Salim was quick to add that efforts were being made to find acandidate, who has secular credentials and who emerges as a consensuschoice.

He, however, made it abundantly clear that the present arithmeticof the electoral college left no doubt that no single party could winthe presidential race.

He said the UPA-Left candidate had sure chance to win as the NDA could not give any serious fight.

He said the consultation process had already begun in an obviousreference to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, first holding informaldiscussions with Left leaders- Prakash Karat and A B Bardhan, followedby Congress chief and UPA chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi talking to MrBardhan and Forward Bloc general Secretary Debvrat Biswas.

On the BSP support to UPA- Left candidate, he said Ms Mayawatiwould play an important role. "Hopefully she will align with the UPA,whom her party is extending an outside support." The names of Congressleaders- Pranab Mukherjee, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Dr Karan Singh andVice-President Bharon Singh Shekhawat are doing the rounds.

UNI

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