Promising to bring more respect to the office of the President and that he would play a dignified role as the head of the country, UPA’s presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee urged all the parties across the country including the opposition parties to vote for him in the presidential polls.
He even sought the support of the Trinamool Congress, which did not make up its mind on whom to back in the presidential polls.
“Since I am being backed by even NDA constituents like Shiv Sena and JD(U), I once again request the TMC to throw its weight behind me in the presidential polls,” Pranab said. Not only TMC, he even sought the support of those parties which did not take a decision so far on whom to back. The former Union finance minister was addressing newsmen at the Jubilee Hall here on Sunday.
Being the UPA’s Presidential nominee he was no longer Congress leader, so he could not speak on issues relating to either the Congress or the government, Pranab said.
“I have served the country in different positions in the government since 1972. People of the country me very well,” he said.
He also revealed that he would continue his campaign trail till July 15 by touring various states to seek the support of electoral college members for his candidature. When wanted to know whether Pranab would reach out to TDP chief Naidu and TRS supremo KCR to seek their support, the UPA’s presidential nominee did not say “no”. On the comments of Opposition-backed presidential nominee P A Sangma’s comments that a miracle may also happen to see him through, Mukherjee said, “I do not know. I do not believe in miracles. I do not know whether any miracle may happen or not.”
Before the press meet, Pranab addressed the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting accompanied by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at the Jubilee Hall and sought the support of Congress legislators.
Though it was CLP meeting, Union ministers from the state, Congress MPs also attended the meeting. However, Union petroleum minister S Jaipal Reddy and Union tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo did not turn up. After the CLP meet, Pranab along with Azad, drove to hotel Taj Krishna at Banjara Hills. MIM leaders called on Pranab there and had confabulations with him.