The Left parties are in favour of a Muslim with ?strong secular credentials and progressive outlook? to be their candidate for the Vice-President?s post.
To discuss possible names, senior CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury on Thursday held a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi after deliberations among the Left parties here.
A Left leader, on the condition of anonymity, told FE that the parties preferred a person from the minority community with strong secular credentials and progressive outlook.
?We discussed names like National Commission for Minorities chairman Hamid Ansari, Jamia Millia Islamia University vice-chancellor Mushirul Hassan and historian Irfan Habib,? he said. The parties also discussed the name of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman and Congress leader K Rahman Khan.
The CPI(M) leaders discussed the possible names emerged in the Left parties? meeting with the Congress president, sources said. Left leaders also hinted that the name would be announced in a day or two.