After formally proposing the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, as its Presidential candidate, the United Progressive Alliance has started reaching out to allies and Opposition parties to avoid an election to the top post of the country.
Soon after the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, announced his name, setting aside all differences, the Samajwadi Party offered its support to Mr Mukherjee. The Bahujan Samaj Party, the Janata Dal (Secular) and the People's Democratic Party have also decided to support Mr Mukherjee. The election will be held on July 19. Mr Mukherjee will soon submit his resignation from the Cabinet.
While the Left parties are yet to take a call on the issue, the West Bengal unit of the CPI (M) has welcomed his candidature. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, spoke to senior leaders of the BJP, the CPI, the SP and the BSP and requested them to support Mr Mukherjee. Sources in the Opposition National Democratic Alliance told Business Line that the leadership will “positively consider” the request from the Prime Minister to avoid a contest.
The UPA's key ally, the Trinamool Congress, however, is averse to the candidature of Mr Mukherjee. The West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool chief, Ms Mamata Banerjee, said she continues to favour the former President, Mr A P J. Abdul Kalam, for the post. There are indications that Trinamool may withdraw its support to the UPA Government soon.
UPA meeting
Earlier, ending all speculation, a meeting of the UPA held at the Prime Minister's residence on Friday decided to support the 76-year-old Finance Minister for the post. At the meeting, chaired by Ms Sonia Gandhi, the allies said that it will not be proper to delay the announcement of UPA's candidate. Representatives of the UPA's allies such as the DMK, the Rashtriya Lok Dal, the Nationalist Congress Party, the National Conference, the Indian Union Muslim League, the Assam United Democratic Front and the AIMIM and top Congress leaders were present at the meeting. Announcing the decision, Ms Sonia Gandhi said there is broad support for Mr Mukherjee. She appealed to all political parties and all MPs and MLAs to support Mr Mukherjee, who has five decades of experience in politics.
Soon after her announcement, SP leader Mr Ramgopal Yadav said he was happy that Mr Mukherjee has been “finally nominated” by the Congress. “The party supports him and wishes him well for the victory,” Mr Yadav said.
The SP also said that the earlier announcement, along with the Trinamool Congress, that people like the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the former President, Mr Abdul Kalam, and the former Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee, as candidates for the post was just a suggestion. There were reports that the Congress had sent feelers to the SP offering it the Vice-President's post.
With the support of the SP and the BSP and other smaller parties, Mr Mukherjee is sure to get more than half of the total vote value of 10,98,882 of the electoral college. That means, he can manage a victory even if the Trinamool Congress and the NDA decide to oppose him.
Mr Mukherjee said he is deeply honoured on the nomination for the office of President. “I accept this offer with great humility. I am confident of my party colleagues. I seek their indulgence,” he said.