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Next Indian president

Will there be contest on a consensus?

PALLAB BHATTACHARYA, New Delhi
Will there be a contest or a consensus for the next President of India?
With a little over two months left for incumbent K R Narayanan's five-year term to be over, political circles in the Indian capital are already abuzz with speculations over his successor.
Given the fact that the scale of the electoral college for Presidential electionsconsisting of members of both Houses of Parliament and state legislaturesis almost evenly poised between the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition, it seemed till the other day that both sides will opt for a consensus and not contest for the top constitutional post.
Neither side appeared disposed towards taking a risk for a showdown and an embarrassment.
Besides, the strain in relations between BJP and one of its key allies Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on the handling of communal violence in Gujarat had tended to give the impression that BJP might not be willing to force its own choice for the post of President.
The NDA has majority in Lok Sabha, lower house of Parliament, while the opposition in Rajya Sabha, the upper house. The BJP has majority in legislatures in just two states on its own strength and shares power with its regional allies in two more.
On the other hand, the main opposition Congress, Left parties and RJD has majority in at least 17 states. But the arithmetic has changed with BJP firming up an alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to secure majority in India's biggest legislature (403 members) in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh and apparently mending fences with TDP which does not appear to be in a mood the NDA boat in near future.
Besides, the NDA seems certain to garner the support of Nationalist
Congress Party headed by Sharad Pawar and Jayalalitha-led AIADMK (ruling Tamil Nadu state) if a contest becomes unavoidable.
Yet, NDA last week authorised Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to work out a consensus on Presidential choice. Vajpayee has already begun consultations.
Among the names that are still doing rounds are Narayanan and Krishan Kant, the present Vice President. The latest name to join the buzz is P C Alexander, a close aide of late Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and now the Governor of Maharashtra state ruled by Congress-NCP coalition.
The Congress and Left Parties favour a second term for Narayanan, a former Congressman. Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy indicated this yesterday when he said "Narayanan has been one of the exceptionally good Presidents the country has had.”
But it is not yet clear if BJP would be agreeable to Narayanan's continuance at Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace), especially after his veiled criticism of Vajpayee government in some of his official speeches on different occasions in his first stint as President.
Narayanan, for his part, is understood to have made it clear that he is willing to have a second go if he is an unanimous choice as President and would not like to contest.
For the record, however, Congress and other opposition parties have said they would let know their decision once the government gives out its mind on the Presidential nominee.
A section of BJP is reportedly in favour of Alexander as President as he being a Christian it will help the party to revive its stock among minorities as no Christian has so far become the President.
Congress has nothing against Alexander as a person but views with suspicion his choice by a section of BJP for the possible political moves behind it. Congress sources tend to link Alexander's elevation to the post of President in the context of prospects of its chief Sonia Gandhi, a Christian by birth, occupying the office of Prime Minister in the event of the party coming to power.
Political sources also do not rule the possibility of a "dark horse" emerging as the Presidential choice.