Chennai: CPI(M) on Thursday said it was "waiting to see" what other parties were discussing on the coming Presidential election and expressed the hopes that a "common understanding" on the matter would be arrived at.
Responding to reporters` queries if his party would support the candidature of former President A P J Abdul Kalam, party General Secretary Prakash Karat said "we have not proposed" his name.
"We are waiting to see what other parties are discussing. Let us hope that there will be some common understanding on who should be next President. No individual names please," he said on the sidelines of a party function here.
The term of President Pratibha Patil ends in July and speculation about the next possible candidate has already started doing the rounds.
On the abduction of Sukma Collector Alex Paul Menon by Maoists in Chhattisgarh, Karat said Parliament had discussed the issue.
All parties, including CPI(M), has asked the Centre and Chhattisgarh government to take all necessary measures for the safe release of Menon, he said.
PTI
