India trying to build consensus on next IMF chief: Pranab

New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) After France's Finance
Minister Christine Lagarde announced her candidacy for the
post of Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), India Thursday said developing nations are trying to
"consolidate" their position to take a view on the issue.
While most European countries are backing Lagarde, the
developing countries are trying to build a consensus on
nominating a person from the emerging nations as the next IMF
chief.
"I am in touch with some of the finance ministers of
developing countries and emerging economies... We are trying
to consolidate our position where we can take a view," Indian
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here.
The post of IMF managing director fell vacant
following the exit of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is being
tried for charges of sexual assault in the US.
Even Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked
developing countries to be united in the attempt to reform
global financial institutions.
"I had a discussion with the Finance Minister of South
Africa over the phone yesterday (Wednesday)," Mukherjee said.
Wednesday, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and
South Africa) grouping came out in the open to oppose the
notion that the next IMF chief should be from Europe and
argued that such a selection criteria undermines the
legitimacy of the fund.