V-P needn’t be a politician: Karat

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat says since the V-P does not make policies, there is no need for the candidate to be a politician, reports Sutirtho Patranobis.

The UPA-Left's candidate for Vice President need not be a someone with a political background, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said on Thursday.

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"The V-P should be a person who has an exemplary record in some field and should have the widest acceptance," Karat told a television channel. "It should be someone who has made a contribution."

Karat explained that since the V-P does not make policies, there was no need for the candidate to be a politician and he could belong to any party.

The election for the V-P is to be held on August 10.

Regarding the V-P election, Karat said that his party was adopting a different stand as compared to the Presidential poll. For the Presidential candidate, the CPI (M) had made it clear that the person should not only have a political background but should also be able to negotiate the balance between the executive, judiciary and legislature. For that, the party had insisted that the candidate should have sound knowledge of the constitution.

On the third alternative, Karat said his party has been working in this regard for the past two years. He said the third alternative would not include the Congress or the BJP.

"The meaning of the third alternative is exactly that. There will be non-Congress, non-BJP parties. The alternatives is based on certain principles," he said, adding that the third alternative will be a force against communalism.

The leaders of the UPA and the Left are expected to meet in a week's time, probably after the Presidential poll on July 19.