Explaining his party’s decision to back the UPA’s Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential elections, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Thursday said that “in the present situation, he is the candidate with the widest possible acceptance.”
However, support to Mr. Mukherjee did not mean backing for the Congress and the CPI(M) would “resolutely fight” the “anti-people” policies of the UPA government, he told a press conference here.
Earlier, a meeting of the Left parties was held. It was attended by Mr. Karat and Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), A.B. Bardhan (CPI), T.J. Chandrachoodan (RSP) and Debabrata Biswas (FB).
JD(U) stance
Janata Dal (United) convener Sharad Yadav told journalists: “Our party is against any contest now. Till A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the candidate, we were ready for a contest … We are not supporting a Congress candidate. Under the present circumstances, we are supporting a UPA candidate on whom there is consensus.”
