[1]Elected members of both the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front and the Opposition CPI(M) will bury their differences and pledge support to the UPA presidential nominee, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, here on Wednesday.
This is not the first time that the CPI (M) and the Congress are on the same side, backing the latter’s presidential candidate. But, seldom has the political divide between them been as fierce, given the accentuated hostilities following the T.P. Chandrasekharan murder.
The near-bipartisan agreement in pledging support to Mr Mukjherjee is perhaps a prelude to their national lineup when the BJP-led coalition is plumping for the Gujarat chief minister, Mr Narendra Modi, as the PM candidate in the 2014 general elections.
Given their strong opposition to the BJP, both the Congress and the CPI (M) will find themselves yoked together by the emerging political reality. Perhaps, this is dress rehearsal, quite early on.
In Kerala, the value of the MLA vote is 152.
The MLAs, split into batches of 20 MLAs each, will call on Mr Mukherjee at Hotel Mascot. The chief minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, will be among the first to call on the veteran.
Mr. Mukherjee will meet up party leaders and legislators of all parties, barring CPI and RSP, which have decided to abstain from the voting.
The strength of Kerala assembly is 140 including the Speaker; CPI has
13 legislators and RSP two. Mr. Mukherjee will fly back to New Delhi in the evening.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/04pranab-cutjpgcropdisplayjpg-657