Pranab Mukherjee, the presidential candidate of the UPA, laughed away the allegations of forging his own signature in the nominations filed on his behalf for the poll and expressed the hope that those parties which had not taken a decision on voting would cast their vote in his favour at the appropriate time.
"’Trinamool Congress has not taken a decision so far. Mamata Banerjee will take an appropriate decision,’’ Pranab said confidently.
In an interaction with the media here at the end of busy sessions enlisting support for himself, Pranab Mukherjee expressed wonder at the controversy kicked up at the instance of the BJP and asked how a person could forge his own signature in any papers when it is for others to do so.
‘’My representative has addressed the points raised and the returning officer has responded and taken a final decision. It is over,’’ he said.
Asked on the stance of the CPM supporting him, he said that every political party had taken a decision on the basis of a situation and a given line.
It is not the policies which matter while extending support in the presidential polls.
Only general elections are guided by policies.
‘’The President has no politics. The President has no party. That is why I was given a send-off by the Congress, when I was chosen as the candidate of the UPA for the presidential polls,’’ Pranab Mukherjee said.
‘’Kerala is the fifth state which I have visited and sought support from members of the electoral college comprising elected members of the Legislative Assemblies and Lok Sabha,’’ he said.
“Apart from political parties in the UPA, many which are extending support to the Union Government from outside such as the Samajwadi Party and BSP have assured support. Many Leftist parties also have come up with support. Many more will extend support at the appropriate time,’’ he said.
‘’The election to the post of the President is not based on any principles or other issues. The President is not a policy maker. He is the one who upholds the Constitution of India in the spirit of secularism, pluralism and integration of the social fabric,’’ he said.
He parried questions on the prospect of an ‘Emerging India’ as well the scope of coalition politics in the country.
Pranab sought the support of UDF MLAs and MPs as well as those from the Left camp, barring CPI and RSP nominees, in different sessions at a hotel here.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, UDF leaders, Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan and deputy leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, among others, visited him.
Union Ministers A K Antony, Vayalar Ravi and V Narayanasamy and AICC general secretary Madhusoodanan Mistry were also present.