With Mamata out, Left tilts in favour of Pranab

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: The Left parties also appeared to be gravitating towards Pranab Mukherjee as the next occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday.

Minutes after the veteran Congress leader was named as UPA’s candidate, CPM Politburo member Brinda Karat congratulated Pranab.

1. It is well known that Pranab’s appeal cuts across party lines and he has admirers within the Left – he had in fact called up former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Mukherjee to seek his support.

2. The Left would want to support Pranab just to rub it in to Mamata, who stands isolated today.

Moreover, the Left would now seek to rejuvenate itself in Bengal by taking credit for having played a part in ensuring the first Bengali president of India.