President from Cong, Vice President from Left?

The post of Vice President of India will go to a candidate of the Left parties.

According to high level sources in Congress, the decision in this regard was taken along with the finalization of Pratibha Patil's candidature for the post of President.

Although, Karunanidhi has staked claim for his party man for the Vice President's post but Left parties are unlikely to let it go to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

According to sources in Congress, "The Communist Party of India-Marxist will have their nominee as Vice President in August when the elections are due."

A senior Congress leader, who was privy to the deliberations that lead to Pratibha Patil's nomination, told rediff.com: "Leaders of the Left parties did not budge. They did not agree for Shivraj Patil. What can we do?"

Another senior leader said, 'CPM did not agree for Shivraj Patil because they doubted his secular credentials. They thought he lacked determination to stand up against the BJP and could succumb under pressure.'

Yet another leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "Congress leaders and Karunanidhi tried to convince CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and others to agree in favour of Shivraj Patil but they refused to concur and only then the search for new names began. Then someone suggested why not look for a sitting Governors' list? And, that is how Mrs Patil's name cropped up."

Sources in Congress say 'Pratibha Patil's name was not mentioned till noon on June 14. Nobody from the Congress had thought of her.'

An agency report quoted Pratibha Patil claiming: "I never dreamt of occupying the top Constitutional post and was given a hint by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi regarding my nomination on Thursday afternoon. She (Sonia) wanted to know my mind about the offer."

Within Congress circles there is a surprise but not gloom because another aspirant Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat will have to put up a tough fight now.

Patil can create history, as she is non-controversial. She was a 'non-entity' in her contribution in Maharashtra politics. That's her strength too in current criteria for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Throughout her career, she has been silent during controversies and always remained faithful to the Gandhi family in her own manner. She was close to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Around 1985, she had lost her political base and was quite irrelevant in political affairs of the state. When Rajiv Gandhi joined politics, she was brought to New Delhi.

But her sobriety and dignified behavior kept her going. Her husband was not as popular in public life as her in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, but Pratibha Patil has always enjoyed power. She was never a news maker nor pro-active on any political or social issues, but on June 14 these characteristics helped her win the big prize for which she was not even ready.

The four-decade-old personal equation with Gandhi family, her non-controversial past and Left parties' strong reservations against Shivraj Patil has given her chance to create history and she has welcomed it, with modesty.