With the date for election of the next United Nations secretary general drawing nearer, India is expected to utilise the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement Summit to garner support for its candidate Shashi Tharoor.

"NAM will provide a major opportunity to push Tharoor's candidature," an official said in New Delhi on Wednesday, nine days before the summit of the 116-nation organisation.

The push at the NAM meet will come as part of all-round efforts to muster support for India's candidate. New Delhi is already engaged in canvassing support for Tharoor through its envoys around the world.

Ministers travelling abroad also seek support for Tharoor as is done when any foreign dignatory visits India.

New Delhi is pushing Tharoor's candidature with an emphasis that it is Asia's turn to get the secretary general's post, a view shared by the 53-nation African Union.

India also insists that the secretary general should have "impeccable record" and be committed to UN reforms, the criteria Tharoor fits.