Left changes tack as V-P poll nears
Till now, the Left has been entertaining the vanity that the candidate would be picked by its leaders.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: The Left, which appears unsure of the ruling alliance’s backing for a dyed-in-the-wool Leftist for the vice-president’s post, on Thursday decided to get a view from the Congress on the issue.
Till now, the Left has been entertaining the vanity that the candidate would be picked by its leaders.
In the event of a three-cornered contest, the UPA, along with the BSP, will be in a position to withstand pressure from the Left. Already, a section of the ruling alliance has begun making the point that the candidate for the post should be completely acceptable to the entire coalition.
It was in this backdrop that the Left parties held the first round of discussions on the vice-presidential poll. The lack of clarity on the issue was evident from the list of aspirants that the Leftists discussed at Thursday’s meeting. Among the names that figured were Mushirul Hasan, MS Swaminathan, Arjun Sen Gupta, AR Kidwai, Rahman Khan, SC Jamir, Mrinal Miri, Swami Agnivesh and Farooq Abullah. Incidentally, none of these personalities are associated with the Left.
Interestingly, the CPM leadership rejected the suggestion to nominate its leader, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, for the post. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat stuck to his stand that his party was against a “political figure” occupying the post — something that is being opposed by his senior colleagues. At the meeting, the Left leaders were of the view that the candidate should be from the minority community.
This could give an opening for the Congress to push the candidature of a leader from its ranks. The confusion in the Left encouraged 50-odd MPs belonging to the SC-ST sections to demand the selection of a leader from their community.
The MPs, who signed the appeal to political parties, were from both the sides of the political aisle. The signatories included Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha CS Atwal, BJP’s FS Kulaste and Jual Oram, Congress leader KH Muniyappa.
A clear picture on the ruling side’s candidate is not expected to emerge before Sunday. Monday is the last date for filing nomination. Left leaders here said there could be informal talks among them before approaching the Congress.
Till now, the Left has been entertaining the vanity that the candidate would be picked by its leaders.
In the event of a three-cornered contest, the UPA, along with the BSP, will be in a position to withstand pressure from the Left. Already, a section of the ruling alliance has begun making the point that the candidate for the post should be completely acceptable to the entire coalition.
It was in this backdrop that the Left parties held the first round of discussions on the vice-presidential poll. The lack of clarity on the issue was evident from the list of aspirants that the Leftists discussed at Thursday’s meeting. Among the names that figured were Mushirul Hasan, MS Swaminathan, Arjun Sen Gupta, AR Kidwai, Rahman Khan, SC Jamir, Mrinal Miri, Swami Agnivesh and Farooq Abullah. Incidentally, none of these personalities are associated with the Left.
Interestingly, the CPM leadership rejected the suggestion to nominate its leader, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, for the post. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat stuck to his stand that his party was against a “political figure” occupying the post — something that is being opposed by his senior colleagues. At the meeting, the Left leaders were of the view that the candidate should be from the minority community.
This could give an opening for the Congress to push the candidature of a leader from its ranks. The confusion in the Left encouraged 50-odd MPs belonging to the SC-ST sections to demand the selection of a leader from their community.
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The MPs, who signed the appeal to political parties, were from both the sides of the political aisle. The signatories included Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha CS Atwal, BJP’s FS Kulaste and Jual Oram, Congress leader KH Muniyappa.
A clear picture on the ruling side’s candidate is not expected to emerge before Sunday. Monday is the last date for filing nomination. Left leaders here said there could be informal talks among them before approaching the Congress.
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