Prez polls:Cong move for consensus on Patil hits roadblock

New Delhi, June 10 (UNI) The Congress' move to evolve a consensus on the candidature of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil for the Presidential post has run into difficulties with the Left and the NCP having expressed reservations about his name.

Soon after the Congress Working Committee(CWC) authorised Congress president Sonia Gandhi to select the party nominee for the post from the UPA, she deputed External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to build a consensus among the UPA allies for Mr Patil's name for the top post.

However, when Mr Mukherjee, along with his party colleagues, held consultations with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar here yesterday, he did not get the desired response from him.

Mr Pawar reportedly raised objections to Mr Patil's name on three counts -- he had lost the Lok Sabha election and did not have the mandate to become the President, his alleged dismal performance as Home Minister and thirdly his alleged proximity to the Sangh Parivar.

The Left parties on the other hand have opposed Mr Patil's candidature, saying he would not be able to offer a formidable challenge to Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who is likely to enter the poll fray as an independent candidate backed by the NDA. They said Mr Patil may lose the Presidential election to Mr Shekhawat and proposed Mr Mukherjee's name for the post.

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