Clarity on the nominee for the Presidential race remained elusive with the ruling UPA and its key players toughening their stand over their choice and the Opposition NDA yet to disclose its preference.
The Congress held its core committee meeting last evening to discuss the party’s choice after its two possible candidates -Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari- were rejected by the ally Trinamool Congress and supporter Samajwadi Party.The Congress in turn came down heavily on the two parties for proposing the name of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with that of former President A P J Abdul Kalam and former Speaker Somnath Chatterjiee.
On a day when the two allies exchanged words, Information and Broadcastring Minister Ambika Soni said it was morally and ethically wrong for the Trinamool chief, Mamata Banerjee, to disclose the names that were being discussed among the UPA partners, and bring out the name of the Prime Minister.
Congress Spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi ruled out Dr Singh’s candidature, saying the party could not afford to spare him. “He will remain Prime Minister till 2014,” he asserted. Ms Banerjee, on the other hand slammed the Congress for what she called its attempt to force them innto accepting its choice. She also said threat could not work in a democracy.
She, however, sought to clarify that “I am not withdrawing from the UPA, but if they want let them remove
me.” The SP also came down heavily on the Congress for its attack on party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, and claimed that it was the ruling party itself which did not appear to be serious about Mukherjee’s candidature.
–UNI