CPI(M), DMK eye vice-president post

Along with the high-decibel campaign for the presidential elections, quiet negotiations have started among the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partners for the post of vice-president.

There are two claimants for the post so far "� the Left parties and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). It is not known if the Left parties have discussed the matter among themselves, but the name that has been proposed to the government is that of West Bengal Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim. The DMK wants Tamil Nadu Finance Minister K Anbazhagan to shift to New Delhi as vice-president.

The post will serve as a vehicle for the parties to forward some of their political interests. Events in Nandigram "� the acquisition of land as well as the firing "� have conclusively proved how far Muslims have moved away from the CPI(M). Large tracts of land belonging to Muslims were to be acquired in Nandigram and some mosques were to be razed for setting up an SEZ.

This, along with the general alienation of Muslims from the Left Front, has prompted it to propose Halim's name. Halim, around 70, has been the Speaker of the Assembly since 1982 and is an MLA from 24-Parganas. He is known to be a good speaker with an acute appreciation of the ridiculous. The CPI(M) considers him a middle-level leader in the party.

Anbazhagan belongs to the Vellalar community, a powerful agriculturist caste that was in the forefront of the Dravidian movement. The Vellalars mainly support the AIADMK and the Congress, while a relatively few support the DMK.

Anbazhagan is a powerful leader and party chief Karunanidhi probably wants to send him to New Delhi to make his son Stalian's accession to the chieftainship of the DMK easier.

But there are problems for the Left. The Lok Sabha Speaker is also a CPI(M) leader from West Bengal. Both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha cannot have presiding officers from the same party and the same state. This is the Congress argument. Unless another name comes up, chances are that the DMK will clinch the post.