Mamata toes UPA line, to back Pranab for prez post

Jul 17, 2012 |

IANS

Kolkata

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The Trinamool Congress will vote for UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee in the July 19 presidential poll, party chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced Tuesday.

"We have decided to support Pranab Mukherjee for the presidential poll keeping in mind the alliance we have," Banerjee told media persons at the state secretariat, Writers' Buildings after a meeting with the party's parliamentary and legislative party leaders. The chief minister said she has already informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of her party's decision. "I told him you would be happy to know that we have decided to vote for Pranab Mukherjee."

"It is our unanimous decision. In the interest of the people, democracy We have decided to vote for him. Taking the decision was tough. Had (former president) A.P.J Kalam agreed to be in the race, we would have supported him. Nobody forced my hand. I have not taken my decision by bowing down to any pressure," she said. Banerjee had floated the name of Kalam for the presidential poll but he had declined to contest.

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