Prez poll; Left asks UPA to field a strong candidate

New Delhi, June 8: After saying a virtual ''no'' to the candidature of Dr Karan Singh, the Left parties today again impressed upon the UPA leadership to field a ''heavyweight'' like Mr Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential poll instead of nominating a ''not so formidable candidate.'' The suggestion came a day after media reports said Mr Mukherjee was out of the race and the Congress leadership was seriously considering Mr Shivraj Patil for the top job.

The Left's ''reservations'' about Dr Singh came to the fore yesterday after he had a half-an-hour meeting with CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan here where the Left leader is reported to have apprised him of their objection on the ground of his ''Hindutva leaning'' and his ''royal lineage.'' Dr Singh's name figured in the original list of three prospective candidates put forward by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his discussion with CPi(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and Mr Bardhan.

Mr Bardhan and Party National Secretary Shamim Faizi told sources that Dr Singh made a courtesy call on Mr Bardhan yesterday.

''Obviously as his name is in the ring, he wanted to mobilise support from various sections, including the Left.'' Mr Faizi said they made it clear to him that any candidate put up by the UPA should meet 3-point criteria - his secular credentials should be beyond boubt, secondly, he should be a political person and he should be able to strike a balance between judiciary, legislative and Parliment.

''The Left had some reservations about Dr Singh. When the Congress proposed his name to us, we apprised it about our stand,'' CPi(M) Polit Bureau member M K Pandhe said.

On the reported move of the Congress to drop Mr Mukherjee owing to his ''indispensability'' to the UPA government and consider Mr Patil, Mr Bardhan and Mr Faizi said, ''As the opposition is trying to field the Vice President as an independent candidate, expecting cross-party voting in his favour, the UPA has to put up a very strong candidate acceptable to all the supporting segments, be it the Left, the BSP or other secular formations.'' Mr Pandhe, the senior Left leader said, ''There may be some internal problems within the Congress, but we must not forget that Mr Bhairon Singh Shekawat is a very strong candidate.'' There must be a strong and formidable candidate like Mr Mukherjee who could take on Mr Shekhawat, the CPi(M) leader added.

On the Congress' move to float Mrs Mohsina Kidwai's candidature for Vice President's post, the CPI(M) leader said such a move be difficult for the Congress.'' They( Congress) should not think too much about their strength.'' Mr Faizi said as the Left had agreed to support the UPA nominee for the President's post, it will like to have a greater say in the choice of the Vice President.

Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devrajan was more forthcoming when he said the Left had already conveyed to the Congress that the candidate for the Vice President should be suggested by it.

''Besides the candidate must be a Leftist or someone else with Left-orientation,'' he added.

UNI

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