Christine Lagarde visiting India today to garner support for IMF top job

NEW DELHI: French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, tipped to head the International Monetary Fund, will meet finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and other government officials on Tuesday to garner support for her candidature.

Developing countries have argued that it is time the IMF is headed by someone from the emerging countries.

The IMF has been without a head after the ignominious exit of Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

An informal arrangement between the US and Europe has seen a European head the IMF while World Bank post has gone to the US. This time the developing countries have raised an outcry against this arrangement.

Lagarde has officially declared her intention to stand for the position of managing director of the IMF.

Euorpe has argued that with a brewing crisis in the European region, it is best IMF is headed by someone who understands the region better.

Lagarde will also visit other important developing countries- China, Brazil - and some African countries to seek support.

Four out of the 10 IMF managing directors so far have been from France.