Trinamool Congress held discussions with Congress amidst indications that the party may have no problem with the candidature of Hamid Ansari or Pranab Mukherjee.
The Presidential race gained momentum on Thursday with major UPA constituent Trinamool Congress holding discussions with Congress amidst indications that the party like some other parties may have no problem with the candidature of Hamid Ansari or Pranab Mukherjee.
The BJP's call for a contest and its opposition to Mukherjee and Ansari found no takers with the Left parties and JD(U), an important constituent of the opposition NDA formation, making it clear that they would not mind backing any of these candidates and that they were keen on a consensus.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi held discussions on the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament House this morning in which Mukherjee also joined.
Asked about 'confusion' over names of Presidential candidates, Gandhi told reporters, "there is no confusion. Be patient, still there is time."
Gandhi also met Trinamool Congress chief Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and discussed the issue.
The day also saw some drama when Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury appeared to suggest that Mukherjee was too "valued" to the party and the government to be spared for the President's post.
This prompted Banerjee to remark that Congress has announced that Mukherjee is not its candidate.
However, the Congress clarified that no name has been finalised and Mukherjee is not ruled out of the race though he is important for the party, government and the country.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, whom Banerjee met, broke his silence saying the Presidential candidate should be "political".
Banerjee declined to divulge the details of her discussions with Gandhi but throughout the day in her interactions with media, she kept saying that she would prefer a consensus on the Presidential candidate and it was for the Congress to take a decision on the nominee.
"I would prefer a consensus. If this does not evolve, then of course there will be a contest," Banerjee told reporters in the Central Hall of Parliament.
She parried repeated questions on her preference for Presidential candidate, merely saying "all options are open".
When asked whether her party would support Mukherjee who also represents Bengal, Banerjee said "Congress has to take a decision first. He is after all a Congress leader. I can't interfere in any other party's internal affairs".
"There should be a consensus. In a democratic set up, there should be consensus," Banerjee said.
Trinamool sources said that Banerjee is likely to support the UPA candidate if a broad consensus is evolved over the choice.
The Left parties, who were the key players in Ansari becoming the Vice President in 2007, today again indicated that they were averse to either him or Mukherjee.
To a question on the Left's stand on probable candidates like Ansari and Mukherjee, CPIM Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said said if the Congress narrowed down its choice to these two names, then the Left would like to see on whose name there is consensus.
"That is the best approach. As far as Ansari is concerned, the Left had proposed his name for Vice Presidentship last time. As far as Mukherjee is concerned, the name was doing rounds last time also and we said we have no objection," he said.
In interesting comments, BJP ally JD(U) contradicted Sushma Swaraj's opposition to Mukherjee and and Ansari.
JD(U) spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP Shivanand Tiwari said, "both are good names. Pranab Mukherjee is the most experienced politician of the country. If this name comes up, it is good. Hamid Ansari is the Vice President and it has been a tradition that the Vice President gets elevated to the post. Therefore, his case is also strong."
He said both the names are good and there is no point in raising a finger about this issue.
Swaraj had on Monday announced her party's opposition to any Congress candidate including Mukherjee and Ansari. She even went on to say that Ansari does not have the stature to be President, remarks that came under attack from several parties.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}