Pranab thanks country, Sangma; promises to justify people’s faith

After being assured of his victory in the presidential poll, UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee today thanked the people of the country for the opportunity and promised to try and justify the faith they had put in him.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation and would like to thank the people of this great country for conferring me this distinction by electing me to this high office,” Mukherjee told reporters outside his residence soon after it was clear that he had won the presidential poll.

Saying that he had the privilege of visiting all state capitals while campaigning for the presidential poll, Mukherjee said the overwhelming support and affection of the ordinary people which he felt was “really remarkable”.

“I do not know what I have done for them, Mukherjee said, adding that he had received much more from the people of the county, Parliament and all sections of society he had come across in his nearly five-decade-long public life.

“I received much more than I have given them. Now they have entrusted me with a responsibility to protect, preserve the constitution of the republi,” Mukherjee said, adding he would try to justify the faith of the people in him.

“I would also like to reciprocate the congratulations that PA Sangma has extended to me,” he said. However, he refused to comment on the allegations levelled by Sangma against the UPA.