Race for Pratibha Patil successor hots up
Names of sitting and former presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha — Manohar Joshi, P.A. Sangma and Somnath Chatterjee — besides Meira Kumar and Hamid Ansari, are doing the round for the post of the next President.
While a guessing game has already begun in the Congress circles, its allies and supporting parties are waiting for a formal proposal from the Congress in this regard.
The BJP-led NDA could become relevant only if the regional parties in the UPA and outside, take a tough stand on their “nominee” in this election.
Shiv Sena heavyweight Manohar Joshi is said to be optimistic that the BJP-led NDA will back him in this election. This is because of his good equations with BJP chief Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari was not only the Cabinet minister in the Manohar Joshi government in Maharashra but got a profile as competent minister.
He brought reforms in the roads and highways, expressways because of the support from Joshi. The Shiv Sena insiders said Joshi is optimistic for the top post.
NCP leader P.A. Sangma, is said to be another aspirant in the UPA. Though the Sharad Pawar-led party has yet to take a view on the presidential election, Sangma is looking for a role at the national level.
His proximity to the Trinamul Congress and acceptability in the BJP could make this election interesting if Sangma gets support from the regional parties in the UPA, NDA and outside.
The name of Somnath Chatterjee is also doing the round despite he not belonging to any party.
A section of the Congress is said to be in his favour to recognise his help to the Manmohan Singh government inside the Lok Sabha after the Left withdrew support to the government on the nuclear deal issue in 2008. Vice-president Hamid Ansari and LS Speaker Meira Kumar are also being considered.
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