New Delhi: Against the backdrop of various names being suggested for Bharat Ratna, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said there was still time to take a decision on the issue.

''There is still time to take a decision,'' Singh said when asked whether his government will consider BJP's proposal to confer the country's highest civilian award on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani had written to Singh proposing Vajpayee's name for Bharat Ratna, which triggered proposals from almost all political parties.

Besides Vajpayee, the names of political leaders Jyoti Basu, Kanshiram, Jagjivan Ram, M Karunanidhi, Karpoori Thakur, 19th century social reformer Jyotibha Phule and singer Mohammad Rafi have been proposed for the coveted award.