Date:04/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/04/stories/2007050419031200.htm

National

No one has approached me: Speaker

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Thursday said neither had any political leader spoken to him on proposing his name for the President's post nor has he spoken to anyone on the subject.

Some television channels reported that he has jumped into the race for the post, election for which is scheduled to take place in June-July.

To reporters' queries on the issue as he was leaving the Parliament House, he said: "Such high posts should not be a matter of media speculation."

However, when there were persistent questions as to what his response would be if his name were to be proposed, he said: "If such an offer were to come to any Indian, it would be a matter of honour to be the first servant of the country."

It was this reaction that was "interpreted" by some reporters as his bid for the post. The Speaker, in a statement issued to the press later, denied this categorically.

It was a similar kind of questioning of Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat that gave the impression that he too wants to be considered for the President's post.

The fact is that neither the United Progressive Alliance nor the National Democratic Alliance had discussed the matter seriously.

All parties are awaiting the Uttar Pradesh election results to decide on the issue.