Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that she would not deviate from her stand on the Presidential candidate and that the game was not over yet.
Reacting to a flurry of questions from the media just as she was leaving the State Secretariat for the day, Ms. Banerjee said : “Whatever I have to say, I will say tomorrow, this is not a press conference. I will not speak a word more, but none should think that the game is over.”
Ms. Banerjee added that whatever had been announced, the party would stick to it.
“The President's office is an important post. Don't divide and rule. All should support Kalam. He is our candidate,” Ms. Banerjee said in New Delhi.
Ms. Banerjee claimed that Mr. Kalam announced on Friday morning that he would be contesting. “It is good. We thank him. We congratulate him in advance. Kalam is an asset. He can glorify India. He is a popular candidate. If there is a direct election to Presidential office like in America, he will be number one,” she said.
Asked if she thought Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had done a U-turn and she felt betrayed, she said: “He is a political leader and I cannot make any comments like this.”
Earlier, on her arrival at the Secretariat after camping for two days in New Delhi, Ms. Banerjee had told her aides that her party would stick to Mr. Kalam as the party felt that he was the fittest candidate for the post. The party would not be shifting from its earlier choice of Presidential candidate, as he was a man of high stature and respected internationally, she added.
On reports of the Samajwadi Party chief extending his support to Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, she said that she could not comment on that as the party had not got in touch with her.
Keywords: Presidential election, Trinamool Congress stand, Mamata Banerjee, Pranab Mukherjee candidature
Mamta has rightly chosen kalam, who is above narrow politics. Though he
is not associated with any party,but he can add glory to INDIA 'S
Future.
Whether Mamata was really behind the choice of three candidates is a moot point. However had the choices been projected as alternative suggestions only and not as she projected with her usual pomp and political oneupmanship - the final choice - perhaps it would have lead to more discussions towards a consensus candidate among the UPA.
The impact of naming a sitting economist PM - faced with the task of kickstarting the Indian economy in the face or Euro gloom and low industrial growth in US, unfavorable exchange rate and our own economic woes both due to internal and external or forces - should not and definitely might not have been lost by Mamata or Mulayam. And naming candidates to the press without even seeking their acceptance to be considered (Manmohan Singh and Somnath Chaterjee) is nothing short of mischeivious and to a game plan - this could have led to early polls when the country or the markets could ill afford. Thankfully, better sense prevailed.
Mamta is putting up a brave face; that's all; it is all over for her,
bar the shouting.
She tried to downsize Sonia and failed.In future she will be careful in
allying with game changers.
Ven Sardi
It would be great if Mr Abdul Kalam, announces his support for Pranab Mukherjee, as
the last thing that India needs is a period of uncertainty.
Abdul Kalam sir is hugely respected by all, and he shouldn't allow himself to be used as
a pawn by volatile politicians.
President of India is a ceremonial post and Mr Abdul Kalam shouldn't be tied down by
the rituals, and restrict his freedom to act at will, by being confined to the Rashtrapathi
bhavan.
With the declaration of Congress projected candidate Pranab Mukherjee,the game of selection of Presidential candidate is over.Prabably,Mukherjee will win...Mamata's ambition to become national leader will never be realized for her vanity.
She is the REAL Iron Lady. what she says may not be correct in the political perspective, but for Nation building and principled stand, she is more than Correct. Congratulations to Mamta for following Kalam's foot steps.
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