'Indications from Rashtrapati Bhavan unfortunate'

New Delhi, June 22: Terming ''unfortunate'' the indications coming from the Rashtrapati Bhavan on presidential elections, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi and Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Ramvilas Paswan today called for a consensus on UPA nominee Pratibha Patil.

Mr Dasmunsi said opposition had the right to take any decision on the presidential nominee but still there was time for a consensus on Ms Patil, whose election as the first woman President would be good for the prestige of the country.

He said the indications coming from the Rashtrapati Bhavan were unfortunate, especially when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had himself met president APJ Abdul Kalam and infromed him about the candidature of Ms Patil as UPA-Left nominee.

Mr Dasmunsi said this would be the first time a woman will become the President of the country. ''If the Third Front wanted to nominate Dr Kalam, then they should have done it earlier,'' he added.

Mr Paswan, who signed documents proposing the name of Ms Patil, said since the Third Front had got nothing, they had taken the name of Dr Kalam. ''It is good that Dr Kalam has put the condition of certainty over his name for fighting the presidential polls and so the NDA has become confused now,'' he said, adding to fight the presidential polls Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat even left the BJP.

Mr Dasmunsi said the process for the Presidential elections were over and all the UPA and Left parties had signed the papers proposing the candidature of Ms Patil, which was a good sign for the country. Ms Patil would file her nomination papers tomorrow, he informed. Mr Paswan said Ms Patil would win with a big margin and create a history of becoming the first woman President of India.

''This would be a great thing for the nation,'' he said and added that all the allies of the UPA and Left Parties were united like rock and ensure her victory.

He said when Mr K R Narayanan became the President, people had said he was a Dalit, but he performed very well.

UNI