MS Swaminathan in V-P fray as Jaswant lobbies

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The UPA constituents are suggesting names for the vice-president’s post at a time when the Congress is busy evolving consensus on its presidential nominee.

The Congress will have to give this post to allies and supporting parties, UPA insiders said, recalling how the Congress had backed vice-president Hamid Ansari, who was a candidate of the Left, during the previous polls.

While a section of the ruling front at the Centre is suggesting the name of agriculture scientist Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, the sitting Rajya Sabha member, the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party too is said to be keen on this post. Sources said the SP will certainly ask for a political price for backing the Congress in the presidential election.

Talks of a vice-president candidate has begun at a time when the UPA partners are drawing the Congress’ attention to the ‘give and take’ formula. However, the current mood in the Congress is to retain both the President and the vice-president’s post with it.

The allies, however, are floating different names, recalling how the Congr-ess had to give this post to others in the last election.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Jaswant Singh on Tuesd-ay met Mulayam Singh Yadav amid speculation that the former could be lobbying for the vice-president’s post.

The meeting between the two triggered speculation that the BJP leader may be making an effort to lobby for himself as a candidate in the vice-presidential poll.