NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has initiated the process of informal consultations with leaders of the United Progressive Alliance and the Left parties on the candidature for the Presidential election.

Asked about his party's stand, CPI (M) MP and Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury told a press conference here that it would apply its mind only after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election results were out on May 11. For, Uttar Pradesh would influence the character of the electoral college.

Asked whether the party favoured a consensus candidate, he said that ideally it should be so and especially in the current state of the polity, the person should have "impeccable secular credentials."

Talks with Karat, Bardhan

Recently Dr. Singh held talks with CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat and CPI leader A.B. Bardhan separately.

Sources in the Left parties said both leaders made it clear that President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam should not get a second term and that a non-political person should not occupy the post. Neither would the Left parties agree to the elevation of Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

During the talks, one Left leader sought to ascertain who were the possible candidates being considered by the Congress camp. Among the names said to be doing the rounds were External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. The name of former Union Minister Karan Singh was also mentioned, the sources said.

UPA calculation

In the UPA calculation, much will depend on the stand the Bahujan Samaj Party takes. The current strength of the UPA, including the Left parties and the BSP, gives the ruling coalition a clear majority. However, if the BSP and the BJP join hands in Uttar Pradesh after May 11, the scenario will change, according to sources in the UPA.

A Left leader said the UPA, its allies and the Left parties would get an opportunity to exchange views when the top leaders assemble in Chennai on May 11 for a function to felicitate Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on his completing 50 years in the Legislature.

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