Cong can manage without me: Pranab

Pranab Mukherjee, the Presidential nominee of the UPA, has said the Congress would have no problem in handling crises in the future, now that it would no longer have his services as a troubleshooter.

“There is no dearth of talent in the grand old party with more than 125 years of history. There will be no problem,” Mukherjee said when asked if the Congress would miss him as a crisis-manager.

Mukherjee, who arrived in the City from Hyderabad in the afternoon, was speaking with journalists at the office of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) here on Sunday.

Mukherjee once again sought the support of political parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which have not yet decided on their candidate to vote for in the Presidential election, scheduled for July 19.

Wanting to cash in on the political turmoil within the State BJP, he indirectly sought the support of BJP strongman B S Yeddyurappa, who had favoured his candidature for the President’s post.

The show of strength exhibited by Yeddyurappa’s camp demanding the ouster of Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Sunday coincided with Mukherjee’s arrival in Bangalore. It added to further speculations in the BJP.

It is said Yeddyurappa is arm-twisting the central BJP leaders who apprehend cross-voting during the Presidential elections. Yeddyurappa’s camp has claimed that 14 BJP MPs and 51 MLAs have extended their support to Yeddyurappa.

“I appeal to parties who have not yet declared a decision, including Mamata Banerjee’s (TMC), to support me,” he said while appreciating the JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda for his support.

“I’ll thank him.” He later met Gowda at his Padmanabhanagar residence.
The Bengal strongman also said he was entering “a new area” after being an active politician for four decades.

“It’s a pre-determined election. Political parties decide the fate. Most voters (in the electoral college) belong to (these) parties. There is hardly any scope for canvassing or debate and discussion,” Mukherjee said.

He clarified at the outset that he would speak about neither  any policy and programme of the government nor any specific issue.