The party steered clear of questions on whether it was ready for a 'give and take' approach with the BJP-led NDA in the presidential and vice-presidential elections.
Congress on Thursday steered clear of questions whether it was ready for a 'give and take' approach with the BJP-led NDA in the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections and said it will try to reach a consensus with secular parties.
"We will try to create a consensus not only in the UPA as also with the secular parties outside. If other political parties support us, we will not mind," party spokesman Rashid Alvi told reporters.
He was asked whether the ruling alliance was ready to do business with the NDA in the polls on a give and take basis.
The talk in party circles is that Vice President Hamid Ansari is a serious candidate for presidentship and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is going to play an important role in the polls at a time when the UPA does not command majority in the electoral college.
Alvi's remarks came a day after an AICC office bearer had said that the Congress should not shy away from a contest in the Presidential elections if it becomes inevitable to avert a "crafty proposal" like a second term for APJ Abdul Kalam.
Praveen Davar, who edits a fortnightly journal "Supreme Saviour", says in an article that the name of Kalam is doing the rounds in political circles.
"Many are of the view that after his UP performance, Mulayam Singh is toying with the idea of proposing Kalam's name, which the BJP and NDA will accept as he was their original candidate," Davar, who is Secretary of the AICC Department for Ex-Servicemen, said.
He said Congress and UPA should not accept such a "crafty proposal".
"Whether the electoral arithmetic suits the UPA or not, it should not shy away from a contest, if it becomes inevitable," Davar said.
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