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Will NDA back Pranab Mukherjee? BJP core group meets today to decide strategy
Clean Media Correspondent
New Delhi, June 16 (CMC) At a meeting on Friday evening at the Prime Minister's house, the UPA finally declared Pranab Mukherjee as its candidate for President of India. The suspense came to an end as Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced his candidature and appealed to all political parties to support him.
When Mrs Gandhi made the announcement, she was flanked by all the UPA allies. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee however did not attend the meeting. The decision to nominate the Finance Minister was made much against her wishes. And despite Mr Mukherjee's personal appeal to "younger sister" Mamata, the West Bengal Chief Ministers is in no mood to end her war with the Congress over presidential candidate. "If you think the game is over, you are wrong," the estranged member told reporters last evening.
Mr Mukherjee is expected to resign from the Finance Ministry on June 24 after the Prime Minister returns from the G-20 summit in Mexico. "I am deeply honored on my nomination as a candidate for the election to the office for the President of India by my party and the UPA2. I am grateful to Congress president Shrimati Sonia Gandhi for this recognition. I accept this offer with all humility," he said after Mrs Gandhi announced his name.
Pranab Mukherjee: From 'village boy' to India's next President?
He added that he has been "fortunate to receive love, affection and the confidence of my party colleagues and also members and leaders of other political parties... I will now again seek their indulgence and support for the next few weeks." He even singled out Ms Banerjee, describing her as his younger sister, and urged her to change her mind about backing him. "Every political leader has the right to express his or her own view in own way. But I will seek the support of Mamata Banerjee, I consider her as my sister. So I have no problem in seeking the support from Mamata Banerjee and her party," he said. The West Bengal Chief Minister has so far refused, stating that former President APJ Abdul Kalam remains her only choice. "I am standing by what I said. I will talk tomorrow," she said.
But Mr Mukherjee may find the last leg of his journey to Rashtrapati Bhavan surprisingly easy as he's within striking distance of being elected unopposed - Mulayam Singh Yadav Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party have decided to back him for President; the Left seems open to persuasion; former President APJ Kalam, seen as a rival candidate, has reportedly conveyed that he is unwilling to stand against the Finance Minister. And the opposition BJP too has hinted broadly that it could support Mr Mukherjee, most likely in return for its own man as Vice-President. (Watch analysis: Will NDA support Pranab, and will Mamata return?)
Without Ms Banerjee, the Congress and its allies have 38 per cent of the vote for President. With Mr Yadav and Mayawati, who have agreed to back Mr Mukherjee, they hit 48 per cent. To cross the 50 per cent mark, they have lobbied the Left, which sources say will take a decision on June 21.
As the chips stack up for Mr Mukherjee and other parties, Ms Banerjee, a power player till Friday morning, appeared isolated. Though she belongs to the UPA, she skipped last evening's meeting, after announcing that she remained determined to support only Dr Kalam for a second term in office. In this, she insisted, she was joined by Mr Yadav. He left her stranded, opting to support the UPA. When asked about his change of heart, he said that Mr Mukherjee is a capable candidate, and that he is backing him after his choices for President were rejected.
So does Ms Banerjee feel cheated? "No I am not saying so. He is a political leader. I can't say like this. Whatever I have said, I will talk later on I will talk tomorrow," she said.
On Wednesday evening, Mulayam Singh Yadav had stood next to Ms Banerjee as they squarely rejected Mr Mukherjee for President and more shockingly, suggested the Prime Minister be moved to that office. The Congress was stunned. Ms Banerjee's track record of fighting the government she belongs to had prepped them to expect trouble from her. But Mr Yadav had been wooed and consulted by leaders as senior as Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He had shown every sign of being on the UPA's team.
The Congress exchanged angry words with Ms Banerjee, accusing her of political and ethical transgressions. With Mr Yadav, it worked the back channels, hoping to win back the man who has often bailed the government out in crises, but also has a record of political infidelity.
Will NDA back Pranab Mukherjee? BJP core group meets today to decide strategy
Clean Media Correspondent
New Delhi, June 16 (CMC) At a meeting on Friday evening at the Prime Minister's house, the UPA finally declared Pranab Mukherjee as its candidate for President of India. The suspense came to an end as Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced his candidature and appealed to all political parties to support him.
When Mrs Gandhi made the announcement, she was flanked by all the UPA allies. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee however did not attend the meeting. The decision to nominate the Finance Minister was made much against her wishes. And despite Mr Mukherjee's personal appeal to "younger sister" Mamata, the West Bengal Chief Ministers is in no mood to end her war with the Congress over presidential candidate. "If you think the game is over, you are wrong," the estranged member told reporters last evening.
Mr Mukherjee is expected to resign from the Finance Ministry on June 24 after the Prime Minister returns from the G-20 summit in Mexico. "I am deeply honored on my nomination as a candidate for the election to the office for the President of India by my party and the UPA2. I am grateful to Congress president Shrimati Sonia Gandhi for this recognition. I accept this offer with all humility," he said after Mrs Gandhi announced his name.
Pranab Mukherjee: From 'village boy' to India's next President?
He added that he has been "fortunate to receive love, affection and the confidence of my party colleagues and also members and leaders of other political parties... I will now again seek their indulgence and support for the next few weeks." He even singled out Ms Banerjee, describing her as his younger sister, and urged her to change her mind about backing him. "Every political leader has the right to express his or her own view in own way. But I will seek the support of Mamata Banerjee, I consider her as my sister. So I have no problem in seeking the support from Mamata Banerjee and her party," he said. The West Bengal Chief Minister has so far refused, stating that former President APJ Abdul Kalam remains her only choice. "I am standing by what I said. I will talk tomorrow," she said.
But Mr Mukherjee may find the last leg of his journey to Rashtrapati Bhavan surprisingly easy as he's within striking distance of being elected unopposed - Mulayam Singh Yadav Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party have decided to back him for President; the Left seems open to persuasion; former President APJ Kalam, seen as a rival candidate, has reportedly conveyed that he is unwilling to stand against the Finance Minister. And the opposition BJP too has hinted broadly that it could support Mr Mukherjee, most likely in return for its own man as Vice-President. (Watch analysis: Will NDA support Pranab, and will Mamata return?)
Without Ms Banerjee, the Congress and its allies have 38 per cent of the vote for President. With Mr Yadav and Mayawati, who have agreed to back Mr Mukherjee, they hit 48 per cent. To cross the 50 per cent mark, they have lobbied the Left, which sources say will take a decision on June 21.
As the chips stack up for Mr Mukherjee and other parties, Ms Banerjee, a power player till Friday morning, appeared isolated. Though she belongs to the UPA, she skipped last evening's meeting, after announcing that she remained determined to support only Dr Kalam for a second term in office. In this, she insisted, she was joined by Mr Yadav. He left her stranded, opting to support the UPA. When asked about his change of heart, he said that Mr Mukherjee is a capable candidate, and that he is backing him after his choices for President were rejected.
So does Ms Banerjee feel cheated? "No I am not saying so. He is a political leader. I can't say like this. Whatever I have said, I will talk later on I will talk tomorrow," she said.
On Wednesday evening, Mulayam Singh Yadav had stood next to Ms Banerjee as they squarely rejected Mr Mukherjee for President and more shockingly, suggested the Prime Minister be moved to that office. The Congress was stunned. Ms Banerjee's track record of fighting the government she belongs to had prepped them to expect trouble from her. But Mr Yadav had been wooed and consulted by leaders as senior as Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He had shown every sign of being on the UPA's team.
The Congress exchanged angry words with Ms Banerjee, accusing her of political and ethical transgressions. With Mr Yadav, it worked the back channels, hoping to win back the man who has often bailed the government out in crises, but also has a record of political infidelity.
Politics is a game of shrewedness and Congress knows it pretty well!
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