Krishna Kant is UF, Cong choice for vice-president

Andhra Pradesh Governor Krishna Kant, who had opposed the imposition of the Emergency in 1975, was selected on Saturday as the Congress-United Front candidate for the vice-presidency.

Nomination papers for Kant will be jointly filed by Prime Minister I K Gujral, Congress president Sitaram Kesri and others in the next few days. The election for the vice-president will take place on August 16.

This was announced by Gujral, Kesri and UF convener Nara Chandrababu Naidu at the prime minister's home in New Delhi. Kant's candidature was finalised by the two parties after hectic consultations for the last two days.

Justifying Kant's candidature, Gujral described him as a freedom fighter who had much experience in public life. "I knew Kant since my childhood," the prime minister said. "His father went to jail with my father, his mother with my mother, and I with him."

Kant emerged a consensus candidate as there was no accord between the two parties on the other candidates. Former speaker Rabi Ray, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Dr Najma Heptulla and Karnataka Governor Khurshid Alam Khan were being considered for the post.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to back Akali Dal leader Surjit Singh Barnala for the job. The presence of Industry Minister Murasoli Maran at the press conference indicated that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, part of the ruling coalition, had no reservations about Kant's candidature.

DMK leaders have been close to Barnala ever since the Akali leader served a successful tenure as Tamil Nadu governor when M Karunanidhi was chief minister the last time around. Maran described Kant as the best candidate for the post.

Gujral urged major political parties to extend their support to Kant. He said the choice was unanimous. Kant, Kesri said, has vast experience in politics; his entire family, the Congress president said, having played a prominent role in the freedom struggle.

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