Prez poll: Most allies ready to back Patil
The Left opines that in the event of close contest against Shekhawat, Patil will find the going tough.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Barring the Left, other important allies of the Congress have come around to backing Ms Sonia Gandhi’s choice, Shivraj Patil, for the post of President.
Congress interlocutors led by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, who led talks with UPA allies such as the NCP, RJD and the LJP, have managed to get their backing for Mr Patil’s candidature. There was some suspense over the NCP’s support as Mr Sharad Pawar was initially not inclined to support Mr Patil.
Mr Pawar, who held talks with Mr M Karunanidhi on the issue a few days ago in Delhi, was encouraged by the “Patil is a lightweight” stance of the DMK as well as the Left parties. But with Ms Gandhi hardselling Mr Patil’s candidature, there is rethinking on the part of the allies. The Left remains the biggest hurdle for Mr Patil. It is opposing Mr Patil on three counts.
One, Mr Patil, according to the Left, is inefficient and his track record as the home minister has been disastrous. Second, it feels he toes a soft communal line. And lastly, never in the history of independent India has a leader who was rejected by the people in the general election occupied the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Congress interlocutors led by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, who led talks with UPA allies such as the NCP, RJD and the LJP, have managed to get their backing for Mr Patil’s candidature. There was some suspense over the NCP’s support as Mr Sharad Pawar was initially not inclined to support Mr Patil.
Mr Pawar, who held talks with Mr M Karunanidhi on the issue a few days ago in Delhi, was encouraged by the “Patil is a lightweight” stance of the DMK as well as the Left parties. But with Ms Gandhi hardselling Mr Patil’s candidature, there is rethinking on the part of the allies. The Left remains the biggest hurdle for Mr Patil. It is opposing Mr Patil on three counts.
One, Mr Patil, according to the Left, is inefficient and his track record as the home minister has been disastrous. Second, it feels he toes a soft communal line. And lastly, never in the history of independent India has a leader who was rejected by the people in the general election occupied the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The Left is of the view that in the event of a close contest against Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the home minister will find the going tough. Unlike Patil, Mr Shekhawat enjoys an across-the-border appeal because of his above-the-fray functioning as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Those who are opposing Mr Patil are banking on the Left to mobilise opinion within the ruling front against Ms Gandhi’s choice. At a meeting with Ms Sonia Gandhi on May 13, Mr Prakash Karat had conveyed the Left’s reservations about Mr Patil. The Left has been pitching for the external affairs minister’s elevation as the President.
But the Congress is hoping that the Left will fall in the line as other important players such as Ms Mayawati are expected to endorse the Congress candidate. Ms Mayawati’s reservation was against Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde as she does not want someone from the Dalit community to occupy the important office.
After a meeting with Mr Pawar at Mr Mukherjee’s residence on Friday, senior Congress leaders continued deliberations on the election. The group assessed the quantum of the UPA allies’ votes and also talked about the need for a mechanism to check cross voting during the upcoming election, according to sources.
This might be important as Ms Gandhi’s backing for Mr Patil is certain to prompt the SP-led “Third Front” to support Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Although the numbers are heavily loaded against the vice-president at this juncture, Mr Shekhawat’s managers are hoping for the anti-Patil feeling to swell the vice-president’s support base.
Those who are opposing Mr Patil are banking on the Left to mobilise opinion within the ruling front against Ms Gandhi’s choice. At a meeting with Ms Sonia Gandhi on May 13, Mr Prakash Karat had conveyed the Left’s reservations about Mr Patil. The Left has been pitching for the external affairs minister’s elevation as the President.
But the Congress is hoping that the Left will fall in the line as other important players such as Ms Mayawati are expected to endorse the Congress candidate. Ms Mayawati’s reservation was against Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde as she does not want someone from the Dalit community to occupy the important office.
After a meeting with Mr Pawar at Mr Mukherjee’s residence on Friday, senior Congress leaders continued deliberations on the election. The group assessed the quantum of the UPA allies’ votes and also talked about the need for a mechanism to check cross voting during the upcoming election, according to sources.
This might be important as Ms Gandhi’s backing for Mr Patil is certain to prompt the SP-led “Third Front” to support Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Although the numbers are heavily loaded against the vice-president at this juncture, Mr Shekhawat’s managers are hoping for the anti-Patil feeling to swell the vice-president’s support base.
Meanwhile, the attempt of the Congress to corner the vice-president’s post is certain to be contested by allies. A section in the Left is of the view that it should seek the vice-president’s post in lieu of their backing for the Congress’ Presidential nominee. This section feels that Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee could be projected as the alliance’s candidate for the post.
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