Mulayam's flip flop on Presidential nominee, backs Pranab

In a flip flop, Samajwadi Party, which had joined hands with Trinamool Congress over the issue of Presidential poll, today went all out vouching support for Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for the top Constitutional post.

Soon after Congress President Sonia Gandhi announced Mukherjee's candidature, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav commended Mukherjee saying "he is an able, experienced and scholarly Parliamentarian."

His cousin and party General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav had earlier announced SP's support for Mukherjee, wishing the leader from West Bengal all the best. "We support Mukherjee's candidature. We congratulate him on becoming the UPA candidate," Ram Gopal said in Delhi.

Asked about the names floated by him and Banerjee, Mulayam said in Lucknow that "those were my suggestions. I had suggested the names with Mamata Banerjee. The suggestions have not been accepted and Pranab Mukherjee's name has been accepted by all."

To a volley of questions on why SP had not thought of Mukherjee's name, the party supremo said he had no "jyotish (astrology) (power)". Asked whether SP would join UPA government if TMC quits, Yadav said it was an absurd question. "What are you talking...who has invited us (to join UPA)".

To a question on Banerjee's statement that SP and TMC will stick together on the issue, Ydav said such questions are a waste in politics. In politics, there are developments...decisions are taken...this question has no relevance."