Pranab ‘confident’ of getting elected
UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee, who visited Mumbai on Friday as part of his campaign for the presidential poll, said that he was confident of getting elected as the next President. Apart from Congress and NCP legislators, Mr Mukherjee also met Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to express his gratitude for supporting his candidature.
Mr Mukherjee, accompanied by NCP chief Sharad Pawar, reached Mr Thackeray’s residence Matoshree late in the evening. However, he refused to disclose what he discussed with the Sena chief.
Mr Thackeray has declared his party’s support to Mr Mukherjee after breaking ranks with the BJP, which is backing P.A. Sangma. Mr Mukherjee also said that Mr Sangma was his friend.
Earlier, the former finance minister said that he had resigned from active party politics. Answering a query on whether he considered himself the Congress’ “troubleshooter” and whether Mr Pawar would be the UPA government’s next troubleshooter, Mr Mukherjee said, “The Congress party and UPA have a large number of talented people. I don’t consider myself a ‘sankatmochan’ (a troubleshooter). I was only a member of the team. Because of the support of my colleagues within and outside, I was able to work,” said Mr Mukherjee.
The UPA nominee refused to comment on current political topics. “I have quit active politics. Therefore I will not talk on any political issue,” he said, adding that he as a candidate was not imposing himself on anyone for support.
On the issue of meeting Mr Thackeray, Mr Mukherjee said that he was meeting only those leaders who had extended their support or expressed desire to support him.
When asked if he thought that the President’s post was largely ceremonial and whether he would like to see the Constitution amended to rectify this, he said, “The authority to amend the Constitution does not lie with the President. The answer can be given only by political parties, not by anyone else.”
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