The guessing game has begun in the UPA circles on who can convince the Trinamul Congress boss Mamata Banerjee to support the presidential candidate, Mr Pranab Mukherjee.
Mr Mukherjee, who has already described Mamata as his sister, a valued colleague, is expected to meet the West Bengal chief minister during his visit to Kolkata either July 6 or 7.
But she may find it difficult how to modify her stand after opposing the candidature of Mr Mukherjee. Insiders said, this can possible if the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi or the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speak to Mamata directly .
The Congress Party has got four new friends in the presidential election — the JD(U), Shiv Sena, CPI(M) and the Forward Bloc — but it has yet convince the ally Trinamul Congress with whom it has been sharing power at the Centre and in West Bengal.
For the Trinamul, it has only two options either to support Mr Mukherjee, the son of the soil, or remain abstain from the election. But abstention is like backing Mr Mukherjee indirectly. This is because the Trinamul cannot support the BJP-backed candidate, Mr P.A. Sangma, ideologically and politically, they said.
Law minister Salman Khurshid is optimistic that Ms Banerjee will finally support Mr Mukherjee’s candidature.
Meanwhile, Mr Mukherjee will be starting his campaign on June 30 and continue till July 15.
The UPA nominee said he will begin his campaign from June 30 from Chennai. He will visit Hyderabad and Bengaluru the next day.
He will be going to Lucknow on July 3. Sources said the Samajwadi Party will be hosting a lunch for him while the BSP will host a dinner.
He is expected to visit Mumbai on July 13 and will thank the Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray for the support.
He will be visiting Ranchi for campaigning on July 12.