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I have not spoken about running for Prez: Somnath
By Onkar Singh in New Delhi
May 03, 2007 11:31 IST

Somnath Chatterjee, Speaker of Lok Sabha, has clarified that he has not spoken about his candidature for the President's post to anyone in the Left parties.

A B Bardhan, general secretary of the Communist Party of India, had gone on record that the Left parties would like Chatterjee to be the official presidential candidate.

In an exclusive talk with rediff.com on Thursday morning, as he arrived in Parliament House, Chatterjee said that he had never thought of being a candidate for the office of the President of India.

"If you want to know how much is speculation and how much reality, you should speak to those who have been talking about my candidature," he said.

When reminded that he had also not been willing to be Speaker of the House, he said, "I am not saying that this cannot happen. But I have not announced my candidature nor have I spoken to any one about it."

Onkar Singh in New Delhi
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