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The Left parties favour a presidential candidate who has “wider acceptance and emerges through a process of consensus,” according to Communist Party of India National Secretary D. Raja.
“We are of the view that the candidate must have a wider acceptance. And it will be good if the candidate emerges on the basis of consensus,” Mr. Raja told presspersons here on Sunday.
He said the Left parties had held a preliminary meeting to discuss the presidential poll.
The CPI was particular that the candidate should be a political person as the “President's post as custodian of the Constitution is a political one.” But, he added: “To be very frank, nobody can be considered non-political in India.”
The Left parties were yet to zero in on the name of any candidate for offering their support. Indicating that the Congress would have to play a significant role in initiating the process of selection of presidential candidate, he said: “We have to wait and see how the Congress, as the head of the government, is going to initiate the entire process.”
Right to Food campaign
Mr. Raja said the Left parties would launch a nationwide campaign demanding enactment of the Right to Food legislation besides streamlining and universalising the public distribution system.
Details of the campaign would be worked out at the next meeting of the Left parties to be held in the third week of this month.
The campaign would culminate with a national-level programme to be held during Parliament's monsoon session, he said. The need for such a campaign had arisen as the Centre had indicated that it might dismantle the PDS structure itself.
When his comments were sought on the performance of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is close to completing one year in office, Mr. Raja said: “She has to concentrate on governance and focus on delivering what she has promised.”
He pointed out that some of her statements and measures on certain issues such as freedom of speech and rape had become a subject of criticism not only by the Left parties, but also by all sections of society in West Bengal, including intellectuals.
Special package
On her demand for a special package from the Centre for West Bengal, Mr. Raja pointed out that several other States, including Bihar and Tamil Nadu, too were asking for the same. “It is a larger issue relating to the Centre-State relationship and pertaining to economic powers of States. The States are demanding more share from the Centre's tax collections as they lack funds. There is a justification for what the States are asking. The Centre will have to be more accommodative to the concerns of the States,” he said.
Keywords: D. Raja, Presidential election, Left parties
sir,
The interest of our country should be the guiding factor when discussions are under taken seriously by political parties.In that context the decision of the left parties will get wider acceptance. It appears that the the candidature of Shri.Pranab Mukherjee is being accepted by almost all parties. It is a good sign for the prosperity of our nation. Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam had once addressed the European Parliament and his speech was commented as extra ordinary by European Parliamnet President Haus- Gert Pottering. He described him a statesman,scholar and poet who was the architect of the Indian space and nuclear programme. Shri.Pranab if elected as the Hon.President of India, that will be a good begining for our nation.Shri.Mukherjee has proved his mettle as an outstanding Parliamentarian , able administrator and a trouble shooter.Our country need such able visionary leaders to lead us to reach goals to enhance the living condition of our country men.Let better sense prevail.
In the present condition Left Parties better stay away from supporting Congress`sponsored candidate. Both in Kerala and West Bengal Congress was alined with reationary parties including Muslim league to counter left.Congress party dominate with land lords,business community,MNC and have connection with most corrupt people including bureaucrats and police forces.All are suffering with price rise,health care,education,employment and worst is rape on women. Supporting Congress is Anti-Marxist policy.
Right to food is not a slogan but a commitment to the nation by Gandhiji and Jawahar Lal Nehru.Poor see God in bread-Gandhiji stated.There will be no peace when there is empty stomach.Only the hungry,unreached and famined know the value of food.India will be considered developed only when the present 28 percent of people is brought to 14 percent by 2015.We have vast natural resources including land,water and above all traditional knowledge to produce enough food.There has to be a will on the part of haves to minimize food wastage.The philosophy of giving needs to be put into practice.
CPI should be in favour of Pranab Mukherjee as they have all alone been associated with Congress party. Present situation is quite different and left must not support Congress party candidate as they have been exposed of corruption and anti people policy. They never care for price rise issue and unemployment problem.No care has ever been taken for health care and education.
Why not Dr Karan Singh, an eminent person, be considered as a presidential candidate?
The central government had approved the change of the spelling of Bangalore to Bengaluru.Why the media is still using the older spelling which was given by the british and not the newer version whose etymology has Indian roots.Change the spelling of Bangalore to Bengaluru in all your publications
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