Presidential Election 2012
Presidential polls: Congress leadership’s conundrum over presidential poll was compounded on Monday,with the probable candidates — finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari — unable to get past the resistance of crucial partners and supporters.
If finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, was leading the race for Congress nomination, and Trinamool boss Mamata Banerjee remained deadlocked over the latter’s pressure for a special central financial assistance for West Bengal, SP boss Mulayam Singh Yadav repeated his reservations about Ansari, the other name on Sonia Gandhi’s list for the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
There are some indications the announcement of the presidential candidate may be pushed till the PM returns from the Rio conference.
On the other hand,Former union minister and BJP official spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said his party would disclose its strategy on presidential election only after the ruling UPA coalition announces name of its candidate.Until the ruling Congress party does not announce name of its candidate for the President’s post, BJP would keep its cards close to its chest, Shahnawaz told reporters here.
