It is now becoming clear that the post of IMF head will see a two-way contest, as Governor of central bank of Mexico Agustin Carstens will visit India on Friday to seek support for the top job at the Fund, just two days after French finance minister Christine Lagarde made a similar appeal.
Carstens would meet Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee among other Indian leaders, officials said. This may make India’s position a bit complicated as Mukherjee has said he would ask Carstens to withdraw from the contest.
French claimant Lagarde met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mukherjee and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia yesterday and appealed to them to consider her claim to the IMF post on merit and not nationality. Sources said Mukherjee had told Lagarde that New Delhi supports her credentials.
However, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa had earlier come out with a joint statement asking for ending a practice to choose only a European to head the IMF.
The post fell vacant after IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn stepped down following charges of sexual assault.
