With Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi continuing efforts on the ticklish issue, Congress leaders expect that the BSP chief would play ball.
NEW DELHI: The BSP's stunning victory in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls is being seen as a boon to the Congress-led coalition at the Centre currently grappling with the issue of finding a successor to President A P J Abdul Kalam.
With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi continuing efforts on the ticklish issue, Congress leaders expect that the BSP chief Mayawati would play ball.
The BSP is an outside supporter of the UPA government at the Centre.
Party sources said that Mayawati would certainly have a say in the selection of the next President amid calculations in the ruling circles that their nominee could occupy the Rashtrapathi Bhavan if UPA, Left and the BSP go together en bloc.
Talk in political circles is that Mayawati could favour a dalit President to send a strong signal to her core constituency.
The names of Union Ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde and Pranab Mukherjee are doing the rounds as possible candidates. Shinde is a dalit.
BSP's spectacular victory in UP in fact give further strength to the UPA as the Mayawati-led party has increased its position substantially in the assembly.
The value of each legislator's vote in UP is 203, compared with 25 of Arunachal Pradesh.
The race for the post of President is expected to warm up in the coming days as the composition of the electoral college for the election is now clear with the UP verdict.
The Prime Minister as also Gandhi, now in Chennai, are expected to utilise their visit to hold more consultations with DMK supremo M Karunandhi on who would occupy the top post.
The CPI(M) had already made it known that it would be ideal to have a consensual secular candidate for the top post.
The Opposition NDA is keeping cards close to its chest amid hints that Kalam was their hot favourite if he is ready to contest.
Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, a former top BJP leader, has also given hints that he was an aspirant for the Raisina Hill and could fight for it as he has "friends" in all parties.
Meanwhile, there is a feeling in the Congress that UP verdict would have a positive impact on the coalition at the Centre given the fact that Mayawati is a known detractor of outgoing Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Yadav has already withdrawn Samajwadi Party's support to the UPA coalition ahead of the UP polls and this could provide an opportunity to the BSP supremo to play a role both in UP and at the Centre.
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