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The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met at party president Sonia Gandhi's official 10, Janpath residence here on Monday to give its farewell to UPA nominee and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is all set to file his nomination papers for the most coveted post of President of India later this week. The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi were among those present at Sonia's residence along with the CWC members and permanent invitees to acknowledge the contributions of Mukherjee, considered to be the party's chief troubleshooter. Mukherjee, who is all set to emerge victorious in the race for Raisina Hill, became a member of the CWC in 1978. Mukherjee, however, is expected to announce some major economic decisions, before demitting his office to file his nominations for the presidential poll. Mukherjee is a senior member of the Cabinet Committees on Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Parliamentary Affairs, Political Affairs, Prices, Security, Unique Identification Authority of India, World Trade Organization, and heads the Group of Ministers Committee on the Dabhol dispute. Mukherjee had earlier said that those political parties, which had not taken any decision to support his candidature, should do so. The remark was made in an indirect reference to West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, who has still not backed his candidature for the top post. 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.

CWC gives farewell to Prez nominee Mukherjee