Pranab on two day visit to the Northeast
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India
Guwahati, July 06 2012:
UPA Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee is on a two-day visit to the North East region to meet members of the electoral college as part of his country-wide campaign for the July 19 poll.
Mukherjee was received at the Lokopriyo Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport here today by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Assam Pradesh Congress president Bhubaneswar Kalita.
The Presidential nominee drove to a city hotel where he was scheduled to hold discussions with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh along with senior ministers of Manipur, Assam's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nilamani Sen Deka told reporters here.
Manipur's Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh was unable to come today as the state assembly was in session, Deka said.
Mukherjee would address the media in the evening before interacting with MLAs and MPs of the North East belonging to Congress and UPA constituents at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra here.
Mukherjee will leave for Dimapur tomorrow to meet Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphu Rio before winding off his North East visit to Agartala in Tripura tomorrow.
The former finance minister was also scheduled to hold separate meetings with leaders of Assam's principal opposition party All India United Democratic Front, an UPA constituent, and Congress's state coalition partner Bodoland People's Front (BPF) .
Another prominent opposition party, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has already announced its support for Mukherjee's rival P A Sangma.
Pranab Mukherjee renewed his appeal to the Trinamool Congress and state level parties to support his candidature for the top constitutional post.
"I have already got the support of JD(U), Shiv Sena, Forward Bloc, CPI(M), SP, RJD and BSP but I will like to appeal to state level political parties as well as the TMC for their backing", Mukherjee told reporters.
The presidential nominee during his day-long visit interacted with legislators from the North East to seek their views on his being nominated for the country's top post.
"Today I have talked to All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and the Bodo Peoples Forum who have declared support to me", the senior leader said.
"I will appeal to those parties who have not taken any decision (on support to him) to consider my candidature when they come to decision.
TMC is yet to take a decision even as their leader has said their members will vote.
I hope they will support when they do so", he said.
Declining to comment on his rival candidate and former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma, Mukherjee said, "I will like not to make comment on my rival.
He or she cast votes according to their judgement and I have got full confidence in the electoral college" .
"My visit here and to several other states is to have consultation with various political parties on my candidature and seek their opinion", Mukherjee said.
"I am the oldest member of the Congress working committee and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave me a touching send off and talked to various political parties to support me", he said.
The President's office has no partisan politics and there is no scope for a debate before the election as it is in the countries of US and France where the president is the executive head, the former finance minister said in response to a question whether he felt a debate was necessary as suggested by his rival P A Sangma.
"Appropriate debate can take place before a general election.
I will follow the constitution in letter and spirit in discharging my duties", Mukherjee said.
"I have come here to express my gratitude and thanks to the political parties who have announced their decision to support.
I also thank the media for their long association during my political career", he said.
When asked about the role of President in coalition politics, Mukherjee said this is the time of coalition politics and the President's part will depend on the outcome of general election.
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