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Communist Party of India (Marxist) has decided to back outgoing Finance Minister and UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee for the coveted post of President of India. CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said his party has decided to back Mukherjee, as he has the widest acceptance. "The CPI (M) has decided to support the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee. In the present situation, he is the candidate for the post of the President, who has the widest acceptance," said Karat. "The CPI (M) will continue to support the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government and resolutely fight the new liberal policies being pursued which are against the interest of the people, this is the statement issued by our politburo," he added. Karat further said the decision to back Mukherjee was taken after wide consultations with the party members. "We have also held a meeting of the left parties today, where we exchanged views of the four Left parties about the presidential election and after the discussion it was decided that since we don't have a common agreement on this matter, each Left party will make their (its) own announcements and in that light I have made my party's stand on this position," he said. The BJP has announced its support to P.A. Sangma for the presidential poll. The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22. Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24.

CPI (M) backs Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for President