UF, Cong zero in on Krishna Kant

The Congress camp saw enough heart-burning over the issue after Kesri steadfastly refused to back Rajya Sabha chairperson Najma Heptullah for the Vice President’s post. This despite tremendous pressure from women’s lobbies. Heptullah herself had sent enough feelers that she was not averse to accepting a new responsibility. Former Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who also harboured ambitions sounded upset with his party president. He told The Indian Express some days ago that it was upto Kesri and nobody else in the party had any role to play. Kesri allowed several names to do the rounds including many from his party. Some Congress leaders said today, on condition of anonymity, that it suited Kesri not to back an active Congressman for the Vice President’s post. The UF, pre-occupied as it was with the Laloo Yadav issue, was hardly in the picture.

Till late Friday night Kesri didn’t show his preference. Rajasthan Governor Baliram Bhagat was in the race till two days ago when the fervour waned in his camp.

Apparently Kesri felt that Bhagat being a “Yadav” was a disqualification at this juncture in Indian politics.

Margaret Alva was always a rank outsider in the race and her campaign too fizzled out early. That left a section of Congressmen and former socialists looking for a suitable nominee. It was here that at least one former newspaper editor and a current editor got active. Some others too joined this group and met former Lok Sabha Speaker Rabi Ray asking him to shoulder the responsibility.

Prof Anand Kumar of JNU, a close associate of former Premier Chandra Shekhar, too made the rounds to try and convince Ray, who was was willing but did not have the necessary backing. Krishna Kant, who has had a long tenure including extension of service, as Andhra Pradesh Governor came in late but pipped others to the post.

This was clinched after Kesri began seeing Kant’s virtues as a Congressman and a freedom fighter. And since Kant had served former AP Chief Minister N T Rama Rao and his predecessor Chandrababu Naidu well in the State, the UF had no problems. Naidu, as the UF convenor, was only too glad to back Kant’s candidature.

And so at breakfast today, at 7, Race Course Road, Kesri, Naidu and Gujral finally reached a consensus. After informing CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet, the decision was announced at a hurriedly convened press conference addressed jointly by Gujral, Kesri, Naidu, Industry Minister Murasoli Maran and UF spokesman and I&B Minister Jaipal Reddy.

Showering praises on Kant, the leaders described him variously as “upright, honest, a freedom fighter, able administrator and a constitutional expert”.