Presidential poll: Left yet to take final decision

The Left parties, giving crucial outside support to the Congress-led government at the Centre, on Tuesday kept the suspense on as to who they will support in the presidential election.

"We will take a final decision on the strategy for the President's election after consultations with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday and other parties in the coalition," Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat told a press conference after consultations among leaders of the Left front.

Karat said individuals were not discussed in their meeting, but said there was no change in the Left parties' stand on who would make an ideal President.

The Left parties have been saying that their ideal candidate would be a political personality with secular credentials well versed in Constitution and procedures.

"We reviewed the situation today. Chief Minsiter Karunanidhi is coming to Delhi tomorrow. We will meet him tomorrow. We will also discuss with other UPA parties and take a final decision," he said.

"We are not going into any individual names. We have conveyed our views to the Congress leadership," Karat said when asked about the Left's position on the candidature of Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

However, Forward Bloc leader Debabrata Biswas told reporters later that the Left's preference was External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.