Initiate process for consensus presidential candidate: Yechury

Agartala May 21 (IANS) Akin to what the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government did in the past the Narendra Modi government should initiate a process to choose a consensus candidate for the presidential election in July CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Sunday.

In 2002 the then government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiated a process to select a candidate for the President s post. This time (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi government is yet to start any such process he told reporters here.

Some parties may or may not agree but the government can start a customary process of consultation to zero in on a consensus candidate the Left leader said.

He said the Congress started an initiative in this direction from April 20 involving the CPI-M. The Trinamool Congress later joined the process.

Yechury said the Communist Party of India-Marxist wants a consensus candidate.

In view of the situation prevailing in the country the President s post has acquired more importance since he is not only the custodian of the Indian Constitution but also plays a very crucial role in difficult situations.

As for a second term for President Pranab Mukherjee the CPI-M leader said the Left parties support this.

--IANS
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