Need consensus on Presidential candidate: BJP

With several names doing the rounds for the presidential election, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mukhtar Naqvi on Friday said there should be a consensus on the candidate.

"There should be a consensus on the presidential candidate which will enhance the dignity of Rashtrapati Bhawan," the BJP told reporters outside Parliament.

Asked whether the party will support the Congress candidate, he said, "There are no names. United Progressive Alliance has not declared any names formally. Congress and UPA should first announce name for presidential candidate formally and then only we will discuss."

He said, "Arriving at consensus will be an ideal situation for the presidential election. But it all depends how the Congress and UPA decide their candidates."

Samajwadi Party today said the next President should not be chosen on the basis of whether the person belongs to the backward, minority or scheduled caste community.

Asked whether the party would support Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for the President's post, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said, "I have not heard anybody's name. Nobody has told me about this."

"As far as the President is concerned, whether the person is from minority, backward or scheduled caste community, it does not matter," he said when asked if the next President should be from the minority communty.

Asked about his meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, the SP chief said, "This is not my first meeting with her. It is understood that if two political parties will meet, they will discuss something.

"I have met her many times and it is obvious that when two political parties meet, they will discuss politics also.

If that can be shared with you, we will definitely do so," he said.

After an hour-long meeting at Yadav's residence, Banerjee had said that they would meet again and take a joint decision after further consultations.

Yadav had on Thursday said the Presidential candidate should be a political person.