Karuna in Delhi; might have asked for a Dalit as President

NEW DELHI: DMK patriach and Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi may have indicated to the UPA leaders that he prefers a dalit candidate in the Presidential seat, after APJ Abdul Kalam relinquishes the post on July 24. Speculation is rife in political circles that the candidate might be Sushilkumar Shinde.

Karunanidhi met a string of leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat and CPI leaders AB Bardhan and D Raja on Monday, thus adding momentum to the UPA’s search for a candidate.

Despite the series of parleys, none of the leaders were willing to hazard the next occupant of Raisina Hills. Two days ago, the BSP chief Mayawati also held talks with Singh and Gandhi on the issue. Hinting that the talks were inconclusive, Karunanidhi himself said he would be coming to Delhi again next week to resume talks.

HRD minister Arjun Singh also called on Karunanidhi at the Tamil Nadu House. Sources said they discussed about the possibility of according classical status to Tamil language, a long-pending demand of the DMK.

Even as half-a-dozen names (Pranab Mukherjee, Shivraj Patil, Sushil Kumar Shinde, ND Tiwari, Motilal Vohra) are doing the rounds for the top slot in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Arjun Singh, after his meeting with Karunanidhi, declared that he is not in the race for the hot seat.

The first leader to call on the Tamil Nadu chief mi nister was Sharad Pawar. He declined to say what transpired at the meeting saying that time was not ripe to inform media about the presidential candidate.

Later Karat met the DMK boss and said: “We discussed several issues of mutual interest.” Asked if there was any “concurrence” on Presidential nominee, he chief said: “It’s a process of consultations and not concurrence.We have to talk to others to reach an understanding.”

“These are ongoing consultations. The Left has already made known its criteria for a Presidential candidate,” Karat said. Bardhan and Raja also met Karunanidhi at 8 pm to discuss the issue. Karunanidhi, accompanied by his party colleague Union surface transport minister TR Baalu arrived at 10, Janpath at noon and was in a closed door meeting with Gandhi for nearly half an hour.

Emerging from the meeting, Karunanidhi said: “I have come to Delhi to take part in the National Development Council meeting and also discuss the Presidential candidate with UPA leadership. I will come again next week.”

Karuna loses his cool

Earlier in the day, the octogenarian Dravidian leader lost his cool when a reporter representing Jaya TV, identified with rival ADMK, asked him on the reported involvement of his son MK Azhagiri in the recent killings of three persons in Madurai and why the state government is not taking any action. “Who said Azhagiri was involved. It is you, who were a suspect, get lost,” he yelled at the reporter.