India yet to begin campaign for key UN post

NEW DELHI: The campaign for India's nominee for the presidency of a UN arm, International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD), Phrang Roy has been an extremely low-key affair even after a fortnight of his filing of the nomination.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA), which issued a letter on December 17, 2008, endorsing Mr Roy's name as India's official nominee, is yet to begin any formal campaign to impress upon the international community.

Almost two years after Shashi Tharoor fought for prestigious UN secretary general's post, another Indian is contesting for the president's post in an UN body.

Sources close to the development said the MEA is sitting idle as India's finance ministry has not endorsed his candidature. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself is the finance minister now, he needs to issue an official letter.

"We have learnt that the finance ministry has not formally endorsed Phrang Roy's candidature, and that's why the MEA has not begun campaigning for him as yet. The finance ministry has written a formal letter to the MEA stating the current position," sources said.

SundayET could not, however, get any confirmation from the MEA about the finmin's letter. While talking to SundayET from Italy, India's candidate Phrang Roy said that he was not aware of any such development, but said that the government initially showed reluctance in announcing his candidature.

"Yes, there were delays in announcing my name, but we finally met the deadline of December 20, which was the last date of filing nomination. The time is now very short. I am waiting for the MEA to issue a note asking international community to back India as it would be able to take care of the world's rural poor better during this financial crisis. My track record as an insider of IFAD and as a social activist should work in my favour. I will also take the help of civil societies to receive support from US and Europe, which have more weightage in voting," he said.

Mr Roy, who left Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to join IFAD in 1981 rose to the post of assistant president before retiring two years ago. A Khasi from Meghalaya, he was the only tribal person in the entire UN system to reach to the level of an assistant president.