The BSP’s spectacular victory in Uttar Pradesh has narrowed the race for the presidential polls, putting the focus on a consensus candidate from the UPA who has the support of the non-NDA, non-UPA parties like the BSP and the Samajwadi Party. The moot question is: which way will Mayawati go.

That issue is likely to come up when Congress chief Sonia Gandhi broaches the issue with her, evidently seeking support for the UPA’s nominee. Because, in this election, the Opposition at the Centre almost certainly will not be given a voice unless they want a contest, and Mayawati herself is unlikely to suggest a candidate of her own. The other certainty is that the NDA’s hopes of having a veto power in the elections have been dashed.

Instead, even as the NDA partners try to reassess their space in the presidential polls post-Uttar Pradesh results, talk is already veering towards whether there is a candidate, from among those suggested by the UPA, who may be acceptable to them.

President A P J Abdul Kalam’s candidature for a second term and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s chances in the polls are becoming unrealistic. While earlier the Left parties indicated they may have no problems with Kalam, the Congress is clearly uncomfortable with him.

The one man who looks like pulling away from the others is Pranab Mukherjee, the External Affairs Minister and the No.2 in the Union Cabinet. If the Left parties are to have a say, and they are so far the most active in consultations with the UPA on the issue, he could be the most acceptable from among the list of possible UPA candidates. The others in the race are Sushil Kumar Shinde and Karan Singh. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee is a dark horse who could enter the fray in the event of a tie.

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