Cong may stick to ‘Pranab as President’

Last Updated: Thursday, June 14, 2012, 10:20

A- A A+

Tags: Pranab Mukherjee, Congress, Sonia Gandhi

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: With Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee joining hands to oppose Pranab Mukherjee as President, the Congress finds itself in bind on Thursday.

Firstly, going by Congress’ tradition, it would be very difficult for the party to overlook Sonia Gandhi’s preferences – her first choice being Pranab and second Hamid Ansari.

Moreover, the party would not want to appear to have once again capitulated in front of Mamata, who has already caused a lot of heartburn within the party and the UPA government by blocking key reform bills.

As per reports, Thursday, the Congress has made up its mind to dig in its heels and stick to the plan - ‘either Pranab of Ansari for President’. Mamata and Mulayam had proposed three names - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former President PAJ Abdul Kalam and former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

The Congress and the PMO are aghast at the suggestion that Prime Minister be the next occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan and see it as a move to build pressure on the Congress.

Somnath Chatterjee may be an acceptable name but because his name appears to have been proposed by Mamata - to counter any adverse fall out of opposing a fellow Bengali, Pranab - the Congress would still want to stick to its original choice just to prove a point to the West Bengal Chief Minister.

And, APJ Abdul Kalam - if the Congress would have had wanted he could have got a second term in 2007 itself.

The Congress party went into a huddle late last night to chart out the next move even as it appears to have been outmanoeuvred by allies.

A UPA meeting is also expected to be called soon to try and build a consensus.

But the big question remains: Can the Congress afford to overlook allies and press ahead with its choice as the next President of India?

Plain arithmetic suggests that Congress cannot do it if TMC and SP were to stand in opposition. Also, if the party loses the Presidential elections then it may lead to the fall of the government and snap elections.

Agreeing to Mamata and Mulayam would mean loss of face for Sonia; the Congress is in a fix.

Meanwhile, Pranab Mukherjee is at 10 Janpath to meet Sonia Gandhi.

For Zee News’s Updates, follow us on Twitter , Facebook, Google+, Pinterest

First Published: Thursday, June 14, 2012, 09:47

Post your Comments

Name:
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Comments

Mohan Rose Ali - Chidambaram
Mr. Pranab Mukherjee is already a failure as a finance minister as his tenure witnessed at it`s worst the devaluation of Indian Currency and hence Indian economic scenario in every aspects and avenues besides a chaotic environment of frequent fuel price hikes, short sighted fiscal policies on energy and power issues, unwanted austerity measures, and a steep rise in the prices of essential commodities making the worst nightmare for the Indian populace at large. The nation may be heading to bankruptcy like Greece, if he continues as Finance Minister further. Obviously his choice is ruled out for the top job of the country which requires elite adornment by truly successful and popularly consensual, and best performing persona of the stature and the like of the Ex-President Dr. APJ Abdhul Kalam given the prevailing conditions of nuclear conflicts in the world scenario, in political, economic, and social situations.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

durga - delhi
I think the President should be the one who can actully take decisons in his/her own capacity and not be merely be a puppet in the hands of the ruling party.The ruling party should keep in mind that while choosing a person for such a hig post should also ve the power to take decisons on his own and not just be busy touring the world along with the family entourage on the public`s money...What congress is doing is simply trying to have a hold someohow in the power...actully there shopuld be a public vote in deciding as to whom the public wants to see as the president y

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

RAGHAVENDRA R PAWAR - BANGALORE
If media reports correct Sonia should firm on her decision of Pranb and persuaded alliance parties to support putting all differences aside crop up respect to this issue. Most of the alliance partners said will accept congress candidate and Mamata also told the same thing but now changing her tune and suggested few names. Hope Pranab name make garn some other smaller party votes toward UPA nominee if Mulayam and Mamata lends their support to NDA through pushing their candidate. Think these draw will not continue and drag little more and will settle it within day or two by pacifying the aggrieved partners by explaining the situation.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

VISHNU MEHTA - SIRSA
president of india is just show piece atleast a personalty people highly qualified and non political should be placed by all parties it should notlike prathiba patil it is because whenever i see forn dignitry he realises that he represents his country also he or she should be of clean image

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

NPS Ghuman - Canada
Mamta has been out of step,disrespectful,non co-operative,humiliated the PM,when she did not turn up in Bangladesh on his visit there.If she wins this battle too,the UPA has NO business to rule the country.In that situation the snap poll will look very much in order.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

surinder pal bhaskar - new delhi
Madam Mamta is a UPA ally or in opposition. Her actions and role, the way she is conducted herself goes to prove that she is in opposition but only names sake an ally. she is not allowing to do good for the naion as she opposes every bill or move of the Govt. She has created a big chaos for nation and govt. as well. shje is likely to face wrath of people very soon.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Rajnish Sharma - Vijaywada
Pranab Mukherjee is a perfect choice and Congress should stick to it even if it means fall fo the govt. Defending govt and compromising on key actions actually has harmed the governance more. It would have been right if Dr SIngh would have continued to implement reforms and showed a brave face to the citizens of India without worrying about the Govt. Allies would have got the right message too. Time has come to start sticking to what u want and say and do it too. may be its a new political beginning thanks Rajnish