Presidential polls: 'Gopal Krishna Gandhi under consideration': Yechury

Expressing confidence in the ability of the opposition in fielding a common candidate in the ensuing presidential polls, CPI(M) general Secretary Sitaram Yechury today suggested that Gopal Krishna Gandhi may be among the possible choices but said that the ruling party should declare their candidate first in order to build consensus.

“Yes, we have looked into the name of Gopal Krishna Gandhi. Few suggested a second term for President Pranab Mukherjee, but a consensus must be arrived at first,” said Yechury.

Speaking to press after two-day Telangana state CPI(M) meeting here on Thursday, the 64-year-old veteran cited the broad consensus in the case of APJ Abdul Kalam and said that the selection of the candidate depends on whether the BJP wants secular supervision from the Raisina Hill or communal supervision but concluded that so far BJP has not taken that initiative.

“The ruling party lacks the initiative to try and build consensus,” he said answering a question on the name of a consensus candidate from the entire opposition.

"Nitish Kumar (the Bihar chief minister) said there is no objection if Pranab Mukherjee becomes a consensus candidate. The ruling party has to take an initiative if a consensus candidate is to emerge. They are not taking any initiative. So, it is clear that they want a communal supervision of the Constitution," he emphasised.

Terming the three-year rule of the NDA government as a dismal failure in all sectors, he said that for the first time the internal and external security of the country is in deep peril. “We were told that there will be peace at the border after surgical strikes, now the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is out of control. We were told that the government wiped out Maoists, but they are killing our security forces in large numbers,” Yechury said.

He said that the CPI(M) is on its way of forming a national platform against communalism in the backdrop of rampant cow vigilantism and attacks on Dalits and Muslims. However, he said that the CPI(M) also opposes the Majlis mark of politics as both Hindu and Muslim radicalism is two sides of the same coin.

“Each survives on the other, we are trying to break that by bringing the left parties and similar social groups together on one platform,” he said.