By IANS
New Delhi : Unable to reach a consensus over a candidate even after the announcement of presidential elections, the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is banking on a crucial meeting Thursday between the Left and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to resolve the impasse.
Leaders of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and other Left parties are to call on DMK chief Karunanidhi, who arrived here Wednesday evening in a bid to break the deadlock over UPA's presidential nominee who is to succeed A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Karunanidhi will also meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi along with other Congress and UPA leaders Thursday. He met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shortly after his arrival.
Sources close to the DMK said the Congress leadership had suggested three names to Karunanidhi: Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and senior party leader Karan Singh.
Patil seems to be the frontrunner but Congress sources admit the Left is unhappy with him.
In contrast, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance is preparing itself to put up a strong fight even though the combined votes of Left and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) give the UPA a clear edge.
But banking on possible cross voting, the NDA is expected to throw its weight behind Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Kalam's five-year tenure ends next month.
According to the communists, they want to make a last ditch effort to push the candidature of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. But the latter made it clear Wednesday that he was not in the race.
Left leaders hope to get the backing of Karunanidhi over their opposition to Patil. But the CPI-M and other Left leaders have not so far expressed opposition to any candidate by name. Left sources, however, say the communists do not think Patil is truly a secular person.
At the same time, the Left realises it will have to backtrack if the DMK also goes with the rest of UPA and BSP. This would force the Left to vote for who ever the Congress picks.
"We cannot abstain either as that might help Shekhawat," said one Left leader.
Congress leaders fear cross voting in the party and within the alliance because Shekhawat is seen as a politician who has over the decades built up excellent personal equations with leaders and members of almost all political parties.
"This is the reason we have to ensure the Left support," one Congress leader told IANS.
Congress sources said a final decision would emerge by Thursday evening. The presidential election will take place July 19.
An electoral college comprising MPs and legislators elect the president through secret ballot.