Bihar CM Nitish for consensus on Prez candidate, says NDA undecided

Patna/New Delhi - Emphasizing the need to arrive at a consensus over who will be the next President of India, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the NDA is still discussing the most viable option.

"It has been decided in the NDA meeting yesterday that more consultations will take place.  The JD-U is an ally of the NDA. Leaders of the JD-U and other NDA allies discussed it in yesterday's meeting and after holding discussions they decided to discuss it further," said Kumar.

"Efforts are on to build a consensus and, hence, consultations are continuing in NDA," he added.

Kumar said the decision over the presidential candidate would have nothing to do with political relationship.

"My relations with P.A. Sangma is not bad. In politics, one shares good relations with all," he said, while admitting he even shares a good relationship with UPA nominee and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Apparently pointing out that the NDA may take more time to come up with its presidential candidate, Kumar said: "UPA has decided its presidential candidate and the NDA is holding discussions in this regard.  There is still time. The last date for filing nomination is June 30 and reports have it that the UPA candidate will file his nomination by June 25."

Kumar further informed that the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had called him up to seek support for Pranab Mukherjee for the coveted post.

"The Prime Minister had called me after Pranab Mukherjee was announced as the UPA's candidate. He asked for our support," he said, and added that he even Mukherjee had spoken to him, but the conversation was more casual.

The Bihar Chief Minister further said he had not yet spoken to former Lok Sabha speaker and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader P.A. Sangma on this issue.

"I have not spoken to PA Sangma. I was busy with my 'Janta Darbar', when I was told by my office that he wanted to talk," he said.

The NDA during its nearly two-hour long meeting yesterday failed to firm up a position on the presidential election, as it was divided over opposing UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee and there was lack of clarity on extending support to former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma.

The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24.