Trinamool not opposed to Pranab

Though Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has declared her favourites for the  post of next President, her party is not inclined to oppose the candidature of Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee if the Congress picks him for the top job.

“If the Congress banks on Pranab Mukherjee, it would be politically incorrect to oppose him. He is a politician from Bengal, who represents it in Parliament; to oppose him might create a negative impact on the voters,” a senior TMC leader told Deccan Herald on condition of anonymity.

“Though it finally rests with our leader whether to support or not, as of now we are not in a position to oppose a Congress candidate, whoever it might be. We will have to wait till they formally announce the name of the candidate,” the leader said.

Not only do a section of TMC believe that the party’s image will take a serious beating nationally if they oppose Mukherjee or abstain from voting, they have also expressed their views during their discussions with Banerjee on this issue. “So far the situation is such that the party is likely to think positively on the issue,” a senior party leader said.

However, the party top brass remained tight-lipped. When asked, MP and senior party leader Sisir Adhikary, considered to be close to Banerjee, said, “The question doesn’t arise. The Congress will decide on a name and then only we can discuss it. Though our party chief has already announced her preference, she will take the final call,” Adhikary added.  

Banerjee had said that she preferred Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Gopal Krishna Gandhi or A P J Abdul Kalam as the next President.  

The State unit of the Congress, however, appealed to Trinamool to support Mukherjee in the presidential election.