It is not right to waste our vote by not casting it, hence the painful decision: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee said here on Tuesday that her party would vote for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominee Pranab Mukherjee in the July 19 Presidential election.
She , however, made it clear that the decision to vote for Mr. Mukherjee was a painful one. “Taking it was difficult…It is not right to waste our vote by not casting it; so we have decided to vote for Pranab Mukherjee. Not that we have accepted the choice wholeheartedly; but we had no option,” she told journalists at the Secretariat after a meeting with some leaders of the Trinamool.
Shortly therafter, Mr. Mukherjee called on Ms. Banerjee to thank her.
A decision on the Vice-Presidential election would be taken later, Ms. Banerjee added.
‘Not to please anyone’
The decision to vote for Mr. Mukherjee was taken because of the “compulsions of coalition politics and our commitment to democracy, not to please anyone,” she said, adding that it did not bring any cheer to her. “It is not about supporting any individual, but concerns the greater good.”
She had “not bowed to any pressure” while taking the decision.
With the former President, Abdul Kalam, whose name the Trinamool had proposed, “unfortunately”’ declining to contest, the party could have decided to abstain from voting “but that would have been wasting our vote and I think it would not have been right” she said.
Ms. Banerjee said that she had informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of her party’s decision. “I told him that he will be happy to know of our support [to Mr. Mukherjee] though we do not want anything.”
‘Old chapter’
As for her earlier reservations about Mr. Mukherjee’s candidature, Ms. Banerjee said it was “an old chapter” that one should “forget.”
Keywords: Presidential poll
Mamta might have got her needs fulfilled. But ego does not allow her to accept it openly
and so she poses as though she does not have a choice. We do not know how many more
years we need to tolerate such politicians.
Kind of summarizes the political condition in India. Many including me do not like the current government, especially finance and education ministries, but the opposition itself doesn't look strong enough to provide a great alternative, at least till now. Hope the opposition's position changes by 2014. Sigh !!!
It is time that Sangma takes of his Tribal hat and surrenders. Mamta
would never have supported a candidate that BJP has put up. Hopefully,
Mamta has learnt a lesson. If she cant listen to MMS, she will have to
quit office in Bengal since in this world, nothing can be done without
money and she should know this.This situation has taught a good lesson
to BJP,Sangma and Mamta.
Mamataji,The damocles sword is not on your neck. You are not under
compulsion.Once you have decided to support Pranabji,you should have
made the announcement with grace.Please change your style. Don't be
angry and impulsive. Be calm and firm. You will always win.
I hope the drama has come near climax..
why all the 'naatak' if she had to come back to square one!!!...
this clearly shows that UPA has all the numbers to be in power till 2014 but it does not have any support for strong policy formulation....our politicians choose power over ideology....
An inevitable but sane decision.As Didi has quoted coalition dharma for her decision, does it mean that she will follow suit and support Ansari's candidature too? Mamata knows fully well that she can not face the sentimental Bengali electorate if only she had decided otherwise in the case of Pranab, a fellow Bengali. However,she could have been more graceful by announcing her decision at the first instance itself without dragging the drama to this extent.
We thought Mamata is a lioness . But we see a Jerry in her ! Very shame
!
Really, This is the POLITICS...!
What a tragedy my countryman that most of our parliamentarins
and members of the legislative assembly dying to cast their votes in favour of Mr Mukherjee who is shielding all those that have their ill gotten wealth stashed in Swiss banks.One who abets a criminal is worse than the criminal. Therefore,he should be deservedly dumped in Bay of Bengal.
the decision comes late.late better than never
A moment of pain for DiDi. Five more years of shame and misery for
India.
I wonder whether CPI(M) will take back its support for Pranab.
At last, the cat on the wall came to its own home.
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