The Congress Working Committee felicitated the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Monday on becoming the United Progressive Alliance’s candidate for the country’s President. The party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, said Mr Mukherjee’s absence from active politics would be felt in the activities of both the UPA Government and the Congress.
Mr Mukherjee was a member of the committee for over three decades. He is likely to resign from the party posts in a day or two. “The Congress President expressed happiness over the UPA’s decision to wholeheartedly support Mr Mukherjee. She said Mr Mukherjee will win with a handsome majority,” the chief spokesperson of Congress, Mr Janardhan Dwivedi said. He said Mr Mukherjee would file his nomination papers on June 28.
Campaign on June 30
Mr Mukherjee’s campaign will start on June 30. He will first visit Chennai to meet the DMK patriarch, Mr M Karunanidhi.
Congress sources indicated that an informal panel, headed by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, will monitor his campaign. Senior Cabinet ministers and party functionaries will be members of the panel.
“He will visit all regions and thank the leaders of the parties who have extended support,” Mr Dwivedi said. The party has also reached out to the Trinamool Congress, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the YSR Congress seeking support for Mr Mukherjee.
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, also said that Mr Mukherjee’s absence would be felt in the Government as he discharged many duties. The Defence Minister, Mr A. K Antony, senior party leaders Mr Motilal Vora, Mr S. C Jamir, Mr R. K Dhawan and Ms Mohsina Kidwai also praised his contribution.