CPI, CPI(M) differ on Vice-Presidential candidate

New Delhi, July 14: The CPI has no reservations on fielding party General Secretary A B Bardhan for the August 10 Vice Presidential poll even as its big brother CPI(M) has thrown a spanner in the works by suggesting a ''non-political'' personality for the coveted post.

The CPI's 125-member National Council in session here was of the strong view that the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha should not be non-political personality as the person has to preside over the House of Elders.

A top CPI leader, on condition of anonymity, told the sources that there were enough leaders in the Left who could be projected for the office of the Vice-President.

Though the Left was yet to name a candidate, CPI stalwart A B Bardhan's name was among those doing the rounds after the Left conveyed its desire for a leftist to be UPA's candidate for the Vice-Presidential elections. The other names doing the rounds included those of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, eminent historian Irfan Habib, West Bengal Assembly Speaker Abdul Haleem, former Chief Justice of India A M Ahmadi and Union Minister for Water Resources Saifuddin Soz.

The controversy between two Communist parties started yesterday with CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat having said in a televison interview that the Vice-President should be a person who has an ''exemplary record in some field and should have the widest acceptance.'' Mr Bardhan is said to have dismissed Mr Karat's view as the Marxist leader's ''personal opinion''.

CPI(M) senior leader and Polit Bureau member M K Pandhe, however, pointed out that the CPI had yet to propose the name of its party candidate for the post. ''The issue will be discussed as and when any such names are brought forward at the Left joint meeting.'' Stating that the issue was still open, Mr Pandhe said as the Vice-President's post was a ''decorative one'', the person could be non-political also.

''We actually want that the person should be independent and not necessarily belonging to a political party,'' the CPI(M) leader said.

Even as the Left had insisted on a political person as the criteria for the office of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, now the CPI(M) has opened the door for a non-political person in the case of the Vice President, leaving the field open for a Left leaning academician, historian or an economist.

The CPI leader, however, said as the Chairman presided over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, many serious political issues came for discussion. ''Besides, the person must have some parliamentary experience as he has to conduct the proceedings of the House.'' The CPI leader claimed such a Left political personality would also be able to garner support of some of the constituents of the UPA. ''This will help in arriving at a national consensus on a subject.'' He also stressed that the Left parties must come to a consensus on the choice of candidate.

Echoing similiar sentiments, a Forward Bloc senior leader emphasised that there should be no different criteria for the office of the President or the Vice-President as both the posts required same sort of political experience.

''We will definitely raise the issue at the joint Left meeting to be held in a couple of days and come to a consensus,'' the Forward Bloc leader added.

UNI