Left to decide on Presidential polls on Wednesday

New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) The Left parties will decide their "common position" on the Presidential elections here on Wednesday, while not ruling out the possibility of a Left candidate for the race.

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

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

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

He, however, made it abundantly clear that the present arithmetic of the electoral college left no doubt that no single party could win the 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 obvious reference to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, first holding informal discussions with Left leaders- Prakash Karat and A B Bardhan, followed by Congress chief and UPA chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi talking to Mr Bardhan and Forward Bloc general Secretary Debvrat Biswas.

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

UNI