Speculation is now rife in political circles that the Monsoon Session of Parliament might be ended ahead of schedule if the current standoff between the government and the Opposition over the allocati

The process of political realignment seems to have begun with the Trinamul Congress led by Mamata Banerjee getting isolated in the UPA, while the Janata Dal (U) is moving closer to the Congress.

On whether a non-Congress candidate, like former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, would be acceptable as a presidential candidate, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj (BJP) said the BJP was open to the idea. “We can have an understanding with non-Congress parties where we support their presidential candidate and they support our vice-presidential candidate,” she said, adding, “We will contest to win. We will work out the arithmetic.”

Regional players are emerging kingmakers in the coming presidential election after main Opposition BJP refused to back a Congress nominee on Monday.

BJP also made it clear it was not interested in a