V-P too will keep off CHOGM if PM doesnt go

The V-P had attended the last CHOGM summit in Perth in 2011,as the PM had not gone for the meeting. The V-P standing in for the PM,in case the PM does not go due to political compulsions,was being explored as an option. But,a decision was taken that if the PM does not attend the summit and wants to send a tough signal to the Lanka government on not moving on the implementation of the 13th amendment,then asking the V-P,who is ahead of the PM in terms of Constitutional protocol,will amount to upgrading Indias participation.

Another rationale is that the V-P is a constitutional position and since he does not represent the government,it becomes difficult for him to negotiate the leaders declaration on behalf of the government. A decision is learnt to have been taken at the highest level after informal consultations that it is either the Prime Minister or the External Affairs Minister,who will attend the summit. Vice-Presidents visit is off-the-table,a source said. While the MEA has strongly pitched for the PMs visit,arguments against the visit are weighing heavily on the Prime Ministers office.

However,those in favour of the visit argue that by not attending the summit,Delhi stands to lose the leverage it has currently,leaving the field wide open to adversaries who will fill in the gap.