India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

While the race for India's next president gathers pace, the Congress Party has urged key ally, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), to support the candidature of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as a candidate. "I personally, strongly appeal to the major ruling party of Bengal (Trinamool Congress Party) that please endorse the sentiment and views of all Bengalis that Pranab Mukherjee be the best choice for this (post) from Bengal . But ultimately, we will announce and declare as Congress workers, but this will be finally decided by the high command on the issue of the candidature declared by Congress for the post of presidency," West Bengal Congress president Manas Bhunia told media here on Sunday. Meanwhile in Mumbai, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule said that her party would stand by UPA in its choice of president. "Sharad Pawar has made it amply clear that NCP will always stand by as a strong committed ally in the UPA, and whatever is unanimously decided by the UPA, we will firmly stand with the UPA," she added. Incidentally, former Lok Sabha Speaker, P A Sangma, a founder of NCP has also thrown in his hat as a contestant for the President and on this score, Sule allayed from any direct comments. "First of all, I am too small to comment on his large career, he is one of the most tallest leaders in India so I think as I mentioned earlier I don't think it is right for me at my age and my limited experience to comment on such a senior leader," said Sule. A fresh round of consultations on the issue of selection of a presidential nominee has begun in the UPA, after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) authorised Sonia Gandhi to decide on the candidates for the coming presidential and vice presidential elections. According to reports, the resolution, authorising her, was moved by Mukherjee. The dilemma over the nomination of president continues with political parties remaining divided over a suitable candidate's name. There have been reports that the Congress is reaching out to allies to arrive at a consensus on Vice President Hamid Ansari or Pranab Mukherjee for the coveted post. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term ends on July 25 this year.

Race to Raisina Hill: Congress urges TMC to support Pranab