Mamata Banerjee’s U-turn: Will back Pranab Mukherjee for President

In a complete U-turn and ending a month-long suspense, Trinamool Congress announced its decision to vote for UPA’s Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee ‘in the interest of coalition’
Finally breaking her silence ahead of the July 19 Presidential poll, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said her party will support Pranab Mukherjee, clearing the last hurdle on his path towards Raisina Hill.

The decision of the party, the second largest constituent in the UPA with 19 MPs in Lok Sabha and 9 in Rajya Sabha, comes apparently under pressure from within the party to back Mukherjee, who would be the first Bengali to become a President, and not to ignore local sentiments.

But Mamata did not make the announcement with grace. She said she took the decision with a heavy heart and there are times decisions have to be taken for the larger interest of the people, state and democracy. "It would have been nice if we'd been saying this with a smile on our faces, unfortunately it is not so," she told reporters after a meeting with several MPs and MLAs at Writers Building, Kolkata.

Having extended her support - that would also include four Gorkha Janmukti Morcha MLAs - Mamata made it clear unlike others there wasn't any provocation, appeal or deal behind their decision. She said she had spoken to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi a couple of days back and she "knew my mind" and had a discussion with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday morning. "I also conveyed him my decision," she said. Having extended her support, Mamata also made it clear that she will continue to oppose any anti-people policies of the UPA regime.

"There are certain things we had mentioned in our manifesto and people have voted us for it, these are price rise, rise of petroleum products, insurance sector reforms, SEZ, forcible land acquisition and FDI in retail sector. We will continue with our stand on it," she said.

"Had APJ Abdul Kalam been a candidate, we would have voted for him. It is our misfortune that a person of his stature didn't have the support of all political parties. After that it was only about two candidates – Pranab Mukherjee and PA Sangma. We have observed all major political blocks were divided on the issue. In UPA we were against it, NDA too had its divisions, so did the Left. So the choice before us really is either to abstain or to vote. We have nearly 50,000 votes in the Presidential elections. Remember we are also the main opposition parties in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. We have MLAs in Assam and Uttar Pradesh too," she said.

"We took a unanimous decision for the larger interest of the coalition dharma and State. We will support Pranab Mukherjee," she added, saying they will decide on the vice-president elections later.

"I would "now request everyone to bury the hatchet. Whatever has happened, happened. It is known to you and me. I have not attacked anyone personally. Had we not voted, it would have meant an additional vote to his kitty for we wouldn't have supported the other either. And it didn't augur well for an election of the highest office of the land," she said. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had announced Pranab Mukherjee's candidature on June 15, a meeting Mamata didn't attend.

With Trinamool’s decision, Mukherjee has the support of nearly 7 lakh vote value in an electoral college of nearly 11 lakh. Apart from UPA partners, he also has the support of CPI(M) and Forward Bloc and BJP allies JD(U) and Shiv Sena.

- Asian Tribune -