Pranab rings Buddhadeb to request support for top job

Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee appears to have sought the CPI-M's help to push through his chances of becoming President. According to sources in CPI-M, Mr Mukherjee telephoned former West Bengal chief minister and politburo member, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, on Thursday. Party sources suggested that the request is expected to be considered favourably. The Union Finance Minister is reportedly the Congress' preferred Presidential nominee. The call assumes significance with the Government's key ally , Trinamool Congress making clear its disapproval of Mr Mukherjee for the President's post. “We have yet to take a call on whom to support during the Presidential elections. The four Left parties will hold discussions in Delhi and take a final decision. They will take a decision by the leadership once the picture becomes clear,” Mr Biman Bose, CPI-M's state secretary later told reporters.