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Vice Presidential Election : Left to start exercise |
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With the Election Commission issuing the notification set¬ting in motion the process of the August 10 Vice Presidential Poll to elect a successor to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the Left is expected to start the exercise of formalising a candidate of the UPA-Left after the polling for the Office of President on July 19. There is reported to be an informal understanding that the Vice Presidential nominee would be from a non-Congress party, and perhaps from the Left. Sources in the Left parties said the exercise would get underway some time after the election of the President on July 19.
The CPI(M), which had insisted that the candidate for the Presidentship should be an eminent political personality, is now saying that the Vice President need not be a politician, or someone with a political background. Party general secretary Prakash Karat said in New Delhi on July 12 that the Vice Presi¬dent should be a person who has an exemplary record in some field and has the widest acceptance. He said that since the Vice President does not make policies, there was no need for the candidate to be a politician and he could belong to any party.
The Left parties are yet to hold any discussion on the subject, and it is understood that the matter did not figure in the meeting of the CPI national council that ended in New Delhi on July 14. The consultations may be over by the weekend since July 23 is the last date for filing of nominations for the Vice Presidential election.
However, it is reported that not all Left parties agree with the CPI(M)’s stand that the Vice President need not be a politi¬cian. The CPI is reported to be of the view that the Vice Presi¬dent should be a political personality as he has to preside over the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament.
Among the names of persons being talked about as possible candidates for the Vice President’s post are those of CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan, West Bengal Assembly Speaker H.A. Halim, and Jamia Millia Vice Chancellor Mushirul Hasan. The CPI has, however, denied reports that Bardhan is a front-runner for the Vice President’s post.
West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, whose name was also being talked about as a possible candidate, issued a state¬ment on July 12, saying that he was not a likely candidate. But it confirmed that he had been sounded informally about the propo¬sal.
“I am honoured to have been thought of for the high office of Vice President of India. But, after careful reflection, I have respectfully declined to enter that zone of consideration,” the operative part of the statement said.
But in the introduction to the statement - issued in re¬sponse to “media reports referring to me as a likely candidate” - the Governor mentioned the “informal soundings” without disclos¬ing any names. “I have conveyed my disinclination and later, have clearly declined to be considered for it,” Gandhi said in the statement.
Informal consultations possible on July 17
Informal consultations on the issue of the Vice Presiden¬tial candidate as well as other political developments, may take place at a dinner being hosted by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on July 17, two days ahead of the Presidential poll. The dinner is expected to be attended by leaders of all political parties supporting Pratibha Patil’s candidature.
Though the UPA and the Left have avoided formally sitting on the negotiating table for the past eight months, the two sides have broken bread on several occasions including the UPA Gover¬nment’s third anniversary in May. The Left which played a significant role in the selection of the Presidential nominee, was signatory to the UPA’s statement defending Pratibha Patil in the wake of the opposition campaign against her.
Close on the heels of celebrating Pratibha Patil’s certain victory, the stage would be set for the Vice Presidential race.
With controversies surrounding Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil, putting the ruling alliance on the defensive, the Left is likely to take a cautious approach while suggesting a name for election as Vice President. The Left would like the Vice Presidential candidate to have the approval of the UNPA. However, only a Left or Leftist candidate, would be acceptable to parties like the TDP and the Samajwadi Party.
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