New Delhi/Chennai:
In a development that will give a major boost to the Congress' bid to garner support for its presidential candidate, sources say the DMK has accepted its ally's choice.
Sources say the DMK conveyed its acceptance of the Congress' presidential candidate - current Vice President Hamid Ansari or Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. When asked, Mr Mukherjee expressed surprise. "Oh my goodness! Don't indulge in speculation," he said smiling.
This latest development comes a day after the UPA's trusted Lieutenant, Defence Minister AK Antony, met DMK Chief M Karunanidhi at his CIT Colony residence in Chennai. DMK leader TR Baalu, Karunanidhi's daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, her mother Rajathiammal and TKS Elangovan were present with Karunanidhi for the meeting.
Mr Antony had described the meeting as "fruitful". The DMK has 18 Lok Sabha MPs, 7 Rajya Sabha MPs and 23 MLAs.
DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi spoke about the meeting today but refused to divulge details. "Antony and I discussed names for presidential election but we will not tell you (media)," Mr Karunanidhi told reporters during a meeting of the Tamil Ealam Supporters Organisation in Chennai.
Usually, it is Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who holds talks with its southern ally. But Mr Antony's presence fuelled speculation that Mr Mukherjee may also be a name considered for Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The Congress is walking a political tightrope as it tries to create a consensus with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) on the bench and the Trinamool saying that it will wait till the poll dates are announced. Trinamool's support is crucial for the victory of a UPA candidate.
The President is elected by members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and all state legislatures or Vidhan Sabhas by a system of proportional representation through single transferable vote. The ballot paper lists all candidates standing for election and the voters list them in order of preference. A threshold number of votes, known as the 'quota' is set, which candidates have to achieve to be elected. For presidential elections, the quota is set at one more than half the number of votes.
The election is designed to provide parity between members of parliament and members of state assemblies. The number of MLAs or elected representatives in state assemblies depends on the population of that state. The presidential election assigns a weightage to the votes cast by each state, so that finally, the states have an equal say with Parliament in who becomes President. Without this system, the President would be elected purely on the basis of the party or group that has the maximum numbers in Parliament.