Daijiworld Media Network

Jun 17: In the midst of NDA reaching out to the opposition for consensus on Presidential candidate - rumours of E Sreedharan being shortlisted for the coveted post makes rounds. However, the Metro Man as he is fondly remembered, shot down the such reports terming it as 'people's imagination'.

Speaking to a news channel, Sreedharan a recipient of both Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan award said that he has not been apprised of any such offer. "There are more deserving people in the country than me for Presidential post,... Will see about it when time comes. It’s too premature to talk about that now," he said.

Speaking to another news agency, Sreedharan said that there was no reality in the speculative report. "Don’t long for it,” he quipped.

The former Indian Engineering Service (IES) officer, Sreedharan is highly regarded for setting-up Konkan railway and his role as the Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

It is less than a week since Sreedhran's name had triggered controversy, after it was reported that his name has been struck-off from the dignitary list to share the dais with the Prime Minister for the inaugural of Kochi Metro on Saturday. Although, the IES officer was the principal advisor for the project. However, Sreedharan played down the incident. "Nothing unusual about the decision and I accepted it and will participate at the inaugural," he then said.

Meanwhile, exactly a month to the Presidential polls - BJP's dialogue with the opposition leaders for unanimity over the candidate did not seem to have any breakthrough. Sources from both the parties claim that neither of the camps have revealed the names of the shortlisted candidates to each other.

While the BJP delegation was led by senior party leader and Union Urban Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the Congress faction included party President Sonia Gandhi, Gulam Nabi Azad along with Mallikarjun Kharge.