Consultations for next President underway, PM takes initiative

May 9: Just a day after the concluding phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections, the consultations process for first citizen of the country has started. Till now speculations were only in the media but now Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reportedly started consultations with the Left and other political parties about the next President.

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Rajya Sabha member and Communist party of India (M) leader, Sitaram Yechuri revealed this here today.

As A.P.J.Abdul Kalam has refused to opt for the second term and Congress, which at the moment seems reluctant to persuade him, candidature of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is getting prominence. Somnath Chatterjee is being supported by his party while as Bharatiya Janta Party has given broad hints to support Shekhawat in the absence of President Kalam.

Talking to media CPI (M) leader revealed, "General secretary Prakash Karat met Prime Minister Singh three days ago and the two held consultations on the issue. The prime minister is also talking with other parties. We want someone who has impeccable secular credentials."

Without clarifying the support for Somnath Chatterjee, Yechuri said that the party will make its stand clear only after the outcome of UP elections.

Meanwhile two prominent candidates are keeping low profile even when media and observers are debating on the likely choice which also includes Infosys chairperson, Narayan Murthy.

Till now Congress has not made clear who would be the chosen one but it is likely that they would like to have there man as the first citizen of the country and senior congress leader and Maharaja of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Karan Singh, might be their choice.