Decision on IMF candidate at appropriate time: Mukherjee

India will announce its decision on its preferred candidate for the IMF top job at an appropriate time, the finance minister said on Friday.

"I am in touch with some of my counterparts and our ED (executive director) is in constant touch with the directors of different countries," Pranab Mukherjee said.

"We will announce our decision (on the IMF candidate) at the appropriate time."

French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde is widely regarded as the front-runner for the IMF top job as she has already secured the backing of the European Union and French officials claim that she also enjoys the support of China.

Mexico's central bank chief Agustin Carstens is another candidate who has announced his nomination for the IMF top job, which fell vacant after its former boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested on charges of sexual assault and attempted rape of a New York hotel maid.