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The Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature in the Presidential election has split not just the United Progressive Alliance, but the National Democratic Alliance and Left parties too.
Giving a clear edge to UPA’s candidate, the CPI(M), JD(U) and the Forward Bloc have decided to support Mr Mukherjee. Two other Left parties, the CPI and RSP, will, however, abstain.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to support the former Speaker, Mr P.A. Sangma.
While the UPA’s partner, Trinamool Congress, has decided not to support Mr Mukherjee, NDA allies JD(U) and Shiv Sena are backing Mr Mukherjee. Mr Sangma’s name was initially proposed by the AIADMK and Biju Janata Dal. Sources said the BJP was still working on the Shiv Sena and JD(U) for a change of mind.
An informal meeting of the NDA on Thursday decided to support Mr Sangma. “The ruling UPA alliance has completely alienated itself from the people. Recent elections have indicated this. However, it has succeeded in manipulating a section of the political class by misusing investigative agencies,” BJP leaders Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr Arun Jaitley said in a statement.
Pledging its support, the CPI(M) said Mr Mukherjee’s candidature had the widest acceptance. The CPI and RSP, however, made it clear that they could not support a person like Mr Mukherjee, who is a “proponent” of neo-liberal economic policies.
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