JD(U) blames Left for supporting Pratibha's candidature as Prez

Patna, June 15 (UNI) Criticising the left parties for supporting the candidature of Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil for the Presidential election, the JD(U) today categorically stated that the UPA candidate does not qualify the standards set by the left partners for the highest Constitutional post.

JD(U) National General Secretary Shambhu Sharan Srivastav told UNI here that the left parties had set standard according to which the candidate should be an eminent expert of the Constitution and should have been a noted person of political stature.

He said the JD(U) feels that Pratibha Patil does not fall into the criterion set by the left parties and that by describing her as an 'excellent'nominee for the key post of the country, the CPM was actually lowering the dignity of the post.

Mr Srivastav said the NDA would put up its candidate for the Presidential election and for this the leaders of the NDA would hold a meeting on June 18 at New Delhi. Mr Srivastav admitted differences within the NDA over the candidature for the Presidential post and added that all the differences would be sorted out.

Regarding the selection of the candidate from the JD(U) fold, he said the party would convey its opinion on the issue in the meeting and hoped a final consensus would emerge.

The UPA has proposed the name of Pratibha Patil as the UPA-Left nominee contending against BJP- backed Independent aspirant Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

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