After being snubbed by allies Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi went into a huddle with senior ministers Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram and AK Antony to discuss picking a candidate for the alliance to support in the Presidential elections.
While Pranab Mukherjee, who Mamata Banerjee revealed to be the first choice of the Congress president, has not commented on the political developments since yesterday, CNN IBN reported that the Congress was likely to continue to back him as their candidate for the President’s post.
Sonia Gandhi has still to announce the Congress candidate for the post of President. PTI
The Congress core committee will also meet today evening to discuss their future course of action regarding the Presidential polls.
DMK leader TR Baalu also visited Sonia Gandhi‘s residence to meet with her but refused to comment on their party’s stand and whether they would back either Pranab Mukherjee or one of the three candidates suggested by Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh.
“Keeping in view of political stature and seniority in
public life, my leader Karunanidhi was consulted by Madam last month through Antony. My leader had suggested a name. The name has been communicated by Antony to Madam. Madam at any point of time, will be announcing the decision,” Baalu told reporters.
He said the name of the person cannot be divulged as of
now and parried questions on whether the candidate is among the five persons whose names have been made public.
“Madam will announce it shortly. Not today… At any point within this week,” he said.
When asked if DMK was fine with Mukherjee’s candidature, he said, “it is between the two higher ups. My leader has
communicated the matter long back. We stand by it.”
Mamata Banerjee met with Mulayam Singh yesterday following which they suggested the names of Mulayam Singh, APJ Abdul Kalam and Somnath Chatterjee as potential candidates for the post. However, the Congress has not commented on these candidates yet.
with inputs from PTI
