Regional players are emerging as “king-makers” in the coming presidential election after the main Opposition BJP on Monday refused to back a Congress nominee for the top post.
The BJP is trying to stop the Congress from installing its nominee in the post of President with the help of regional parties in the UPA, a federal front and the NDA. It has also made it clear that the BJP is not interested in a quid pro quo or getting the vice-presidentship.
A section of the NDA, and the Samajwadi Party, the AIADMK and the TDP, are suggesting the name of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for a second term but the Left, some UPA constituents and the Congress are unlikely to agree. In such a situation, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal can emerge as the dark horse because a section of the UPA and federal front, besides the NDA, are positive about his name. Even a Punjab Congress leader on Monday said the state unit cannot oppose Mr Badal if he receives support from other regional parties.
The NDA is hopeful about Mr Badal being acceptable, at least for the office of vice-president, because of the goodwill he enjoys even among some of the non-NDA parties.
The Congress has floated some names for the top post and is waiting for its allies to respond. In Chennai, DMK president M. Karunanidhi said some names were discussed during talks with defence minister A.K. Antony on the candidate for President, but declined to divulge details. “We expect a good President. Antony proposed (some names) and so did I. But we cannot tell you the details,” he said.
In Delhi, Leader of the Opposition in the LS Sushma Swaraj ruled out supporting finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, current vice-president Hamid Ansari or any other candidate put up by the Congress, but was open to supporting anyone chosen by non-Congress parties. “We will not accept any Congress candidate, including Pranab Mukherjee, for President,” Ms Swaraj said. Asked about Mr Ansari, she said he does not have the “stature” to be President and the BJP would not support him.
She also said there would be no understanding with the Congress under which the NDA would support the UPA’s presidential candidate for their support for the V-P candidate. “We are looking at the 2014 elections and do not want to give the impression that we have any truck with the Congress,” Ms Swaraj said.