State Gazette

Till Naidu’s meeting with Vajpayee on June 6 the political grapevine had it that P.C. Alexander would be fielded by the NDA. However, after the meeting Kant seems to have emerged as the first choice.

It was Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam singh Yadav who first seconded Naidu’s choice. Now it is widely believed that the Congress and the Left will support Krishan Kant. Sources in the Congress point out that Sonia Gandhi is not averse to Kant although she was strongly opposed to Alexander’s candidature.Till the formal announcement is made other names could also come up. But PMO sources say that Kant will be the first choice.