India in touch with other nations over selection of IMF chief

New Delhi, May 24 (PTI) As the race for the next
International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief hots up, Indian
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday said he was in touch
with his counterparts from developed and emerging economies on
the issue and was keeping a close watch on the developments.
"Our executive directors (in IMF) are meeting and
exchanging views. And I am regularly being informed what is
happening. I am also in touch with other Finance Ministers (of
other IMF member nations)", he told reporters on the sidelines
of a conference here.
The post of the IMF managing director fell vacant
following the exit of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is being
tried for charges of sexual assault.
Although the chorus is growing that the next chief
should be from an emerging nation, several leaders from
European countries have extended their support to Christine
Lagarde, Finance Minister of France.
When asked about the possibility of new chief from a
developing country, Mukherjee said, "there are set procedures.
We did not face this type of problem earlier. Normally, we
decide through the process of consensus building and we have
the consensus.
"But at the same time, we shall have to keep in mind
that it (IMF) is a financial institution. Shareholding and
voting power are relevant factors", he added.
Besides Lagarde, Indian Planning Commission Deputy
Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and former British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown figure in the list of probables for the
top IMF job.