Pranab Mukherjee still dada as NDA divided
Consensus in favour of Pranab Mukherjee’s presidential election candidature seemed to be growing within the NDA on Saturday with a section of the Opposition alliance saying a contest at this stage would only bring embarrassment to it.
According to JD(U) insiders, the current mood in the party favours a consensus around Mukherjee and that a contest should be avoided.
On the other hand, former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has yet to make up his mind on the offer of Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. The JD(U) is expected to discuss this issue at the NDA meeting here on Sunday.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mukherjee reached out to JD(U) leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for support but Kumar was noncommittal. Kumar received telephone calls from them but he told them that he would discuss the issue with party leaders, sources said.
The BJP-led NDA is in a dilemma — whether to field any candidate against Mukherjee or support P.A. Sangma, whose candidature has been proposed by the AIADMK and BJD.
JD(U) national spokesman Shivanand Tiwari on Saturday said he would like a 'graceful send-off' given to Mukherjee, suggesting his inclination towards supporting the veteran Congress leader for President.
Meanwhile, the Left parties will be meeting here in the next week to take a view on Mr Mukherjee’s candidature. They have not taken any stand on Sangma. In Pune, NCP chief and Union minister Sharad Pawar said he would request Sangma to withdraw his candidature.
“I am confident he will withdraw his candidature and listen to the request from the party. He is a senior party leader and there is no question of taking any action against him,” Pawar said, adding that Mr Mukherjee would win the presidential election comfortably even in the absence of support from the Trinamul.
He, however, expressed the hope that Banerjee would support Mukherjee as his election to the top slot would also be an honour for West Bengal. “Even if TMC drops out, the SP will support the UPA candidate. The BSP and some smaller parties, too, will support Mukherjee, and there will not be any problem crossing the magic figure,” he added.
Earlier, NCP leader and Union minister Praful Patel was quoted by a news agency as saying in response to a question: “We will react if he (Sangma) pursues his candidature.”
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