Mamata says no differences with SP, Kalam is their candidate

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Unfazed by reports that Mulayam Singh Yadav may have a rethink on their joint proposal to pit A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the former President is their Presidential candidate.

"It is wrong information. I can say only this. He (Kalam) is our (TMC-SP) candidate in the Presidential election. There is no ego, no quarrel, no fight," she told reporters seeking to dismiss persistent reports that the SP was no longer keen on backing Kalam.

SP and TMC on Tuesday proposed Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee as their candidates. On Thursday, Mamata declared that Kalam was their candidate.

There were media reports on Friday that SP may be doing a rethinking on Kalam. The media reports were further beefed up by some interesting comments made by SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav on Friday that the word 'hamara' candidate used by Mamata on Thursday for Kalam could mean both 'ours' and 'mine'.

Asked about Ram Gopal Yadav's comments, Mamata said, "Don't put Congress words into his mouth. Don't divide and rule. Hamara means 'dono ka candidate' (candidate of both). My Hindi may be bad, that may be the reason for confusion."

Before leaving for Kolkata without attending the UPA meeting here, Mamata said it was wrong to say that Mulayam Singh Yadav has gone back on their joint proposal.

Interestingly, Kiranmoy Nanda, SP leader from West Bengal told reporters after Mamata's briefing that "we stand by the decision taken by Mulayamji and Mamataji".