Leaders, cutting across party lines, on Sunday greeted Pranab Mukherjee for his victory in the presidential election.
Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said it was a matter of “great pride and happiness” that someone with a complete personality was going to be the next President.
He refused to make any adverse comment against the Opposition, which had indicated that it could go to the Supreme Court against Mr. Mukherjee's election.
“It is their concern who does what. On this occasion we want to proceed with a positive thinking. We also thank the Opposition that they opposed our candidate according to the democratic system,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said: “We are sure he will be a great President and the nation will benefit from the vast experience that he has gathered over his long and illustrious career. We look forward to receive him in Srinagar when he comes to see the tulips.”
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, on Mr. Mukherjee’s election, said this was the “most delightful news we could get.” He was a man with vast experience and had a vision about the future of the country, Mr. Farooq Abdullah said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav hoped the country would develop under Mr. Mukherjee’s presidentship.
SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav said the new President was an intelligent person and hoped his tenure would be good.
CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat defended the party’s support for Mr. Mukherjee. He indicated that the party's decision to take advantage of the rift between UPA allies was right. He said not a single committee in the party had opposed the decision to support the UPA candidate in the presidential poll.
The CPI(M) decided to support to Mr. Mukherjee saying it should take advantage of the rift within the ruling alliance as Trinamool Congress was against his candidature.
Pavan Dahat reports from Nagpur:
The Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari congratulated Mr. Mukherjee.
“ Mr. Mukherjee is a very experienced person and takes everyone along with him. India’s image as a democratic nation will be strengthened with Mr. Mukherjee as the President,” said Mr. Gadkari at a press conference in Nagpur.
On P. A. Sangma’s defeat, Mr. Gadkari said that it was well within the right of the BJP to put up a candidate in the presidential elections as the principal opposition party.
Vinaya Deshpande reports from Mumbai:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday called up Mr. Mukherjee and congratulated him on his victory. Governor K. Sankaranarayanan also sent a congratulatory message to Mr. Mukherjee.
“Due to his efficiency, decision-making capability and deep knowledge of the Constitutional provisions, he is known as the living encyclopaedia of Indian politics. I congratulate him for this success on behalf of the entire State,” Mr. Chavan told reporters here.
“Despite having held positions in the top echelons, he is very sensitive to the needs of the common man,” he said.
Mr. Sankaranarayanan in his message said: “This is a richly deserved victory and has gladdened the hearts of one and all. The emphatic win is a testimony of your immense popularity and the confidence you inspire among people cutting across geographical and political lines.”
