Although no nominations have been filed various names have been speculated by the India media and politicians. Current Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjeeand Vice-President Hamid Ansari^] were among the names speculated. Opinion polls have shown that the public prefer former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam to hold the post once again, and this has support from the political spectrum as well.

The first name formally thrown into contention is former Lok Sabha speaker P. A. Sangma who suggested that a tribal person hold the office has been announced as the preferred candidate by regional parties from Orissa and Tamil Nadu.