Left talks inconclusive on candidate for VP

New Delhi, July 19: The Left parties, determined to play a ''decisive role'' in the August 10 Vice-Presidential poll, today held inconclusive talks to finalise the candidate for the coveted post.

The parties resolved to meet again in day or two to thrash out the issue. ''We may meet even tomorrow to evolve a consensus on the candidate as we have to discuss the subject with the Congress, its allies in the UPA, the BSP and all other supporting parties,'' Veteran Communist and CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan told mediapersons at the end of an hour long meeting held at the CPI(M) headquarters.

The last date for nominations for the Vice-President's post is July 23 and the ''unanimous'' choice of a candidate is likely to be formally announced on July 20 or 21.

Mr Bardhan, who appeared to be the front runner for the post till Sunday, said they had held the first formal meeting today and the name will be finalised soon.

''We had a very cordial meet today and have decided to play a decisive role in the VP elections,'' the secretary general said.

Mr Bardhan's remark assumes special significance as a controversy over the criteria for the Vice-Presidential candidate had started in the CPI's three-day National Council meet here on July 12 with the Marxist leader Prakash Karat saying that it was not incumbant upon the nominee to the office of the Vice-President to have a political stature as was the case with the Presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, consultations with the Congress are on with CPI(M) Polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury meeting UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi this morning.

CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, Mr D Raja, Mr Yechury, Mr Bardhan, RSP Rajya Sabha MP Abani Roy, Forward Bloc leader and MP Debavrat Biswas took part in the meeting.

The Left leaders, without specifying any name, said the names that were being discussed in the media were being deliberated upon.

The names include those of distinguished historian Irfan Habib, Prof Mushrul Hassan and West Begnal Assembly Speaker Hashim Abdul Haleem.

Reiterating that he is not the candidate for the post, Mr Bardhan clarified that there was no controversy among the Left constituents over the vice-presidential candidate representing a politcial party or not.

Clarifying that the party was not averse to having a politician as the next Vice-President of the country, Mr Yechury said the discussions with the UPA was on in this regard.

When asked whether there was a discussion the names of those who were once the Communist Party card holders but later gave up the membership, Mr Bardhan hinted that non-party persons were also discussed.

Mr Bardhan asserted that the candidate would have the "broadest possible support".

Asked to spell one or two names, the CPI veteran said the names that those were the ones' doing round in the media.

''We have not discussed anything realting to candidate belonging to a particular party. It can be even a non-party man,'' he said.

About Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's name being discussed, Mr Bardhan said no discussion in this regard has taken place as yet.

UNI