We need a President, not a rubber stamp -
Swapan Dasgupta, Pioneer
It is unlikely that the account of what really transpired at last Friday’s meeting between the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Odisha will come into the public domain. However, it is more than likely that the forthcoming election for the President of India featured high on the political agenda. As regional players
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The other candidate -
Aditi Phadnis, Business Standard
In Central Hall last week, at a chance meeting with journalists, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee made a case for why Pranab Mukherjee was not a candidate for the president of India. "His own party has said he is too important to be sent to Rashtrapati Bhavan,&" she said. When asked how she could oppose the appointment of a Bengali as president, she said: "I am an Indian. I am not just a parochial Bengali." |
People want Abdul Kalam to become President again; India Today poll -
India Today
If people's choice is taken into consideration, former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam should occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan once again. For, he emerged more popular than 15 others suggested by India Today-Ipsos poll. |
The man for all reasons -
Inder Malhotra, Indian Express
No one need be surprised by the steady surge in support for Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s election as the next incumbent of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Not only Congress’s allies in the ruling United Progressive Alliance but also others, on the opposite side of the political fence, are rallying round him. |
Cong likely to decide on Prez candidate next month -
New Delhi, May 9 - Despite Pranab Mukherjee's name prominently doing the rounds, Congress is in no hurry to make up its mind on the Presidential candidate and the issue is still open with a decision expected only next month. A clear indication to this effect was given by a senior party leader, who said that party chief Sonia Gandhi would take up the consultations with supporting parties of the UPA only after the budget session of Parliament, which concludes on May 22.
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Prez polls: NDA consulting regional parties -
Madurai, May 9 - The National Democratic Alliance is now in the process of consulting regional parties to choose a presidential candidate who will be accepted by all, BJP National Secretary P.Muralidher Rao said today. "There are limitations. BJP cannot have a say on its own.We have to consult partners and regional parties.Now that process is going on.We will try to evolve a common candidate.A common platform is being evolved..." he told reporters here.
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On Presidential question, Mukherjee himself 'in the dark' -
Prakash Chawla & Anisur Rahman,
Dhaka, May 6 - Pranab Mukherjee today refused to add any fodder to the talk of him being the front-runner for the presidential candidate, saying he was himself "in the dark" over the issue that has hogged headlines back home. The past week has witnessed intense speculation in India over who would occupy the Rashtrapati Bhawan next, with Mukherjee and the current Vice President Hamid Ansari being touted as the main contenders.
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The Raisina Rigmarole is not in your interest -
Prabhu Chawla, ExpressBuzz
I have known you for 37 years. I have been a witness to your rise, fall, and rise. During the Emergency, you were the most effective Minister of State for Finance. You were one of the few trusted ministers on whom Sanjay Gandhi depended on for sane advice. |
AIADMK yet to finalise stand on Presidential election: Jaya -
New Delhi, May 5 - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today parried questions on whether the AIADMK would support Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for Presidency, saying the party has not yet been approached by anybody in this regard. She said no "concrete proposal" has been put forward by anybody to her party on the candidate for Presidential Polls scheduled to be held in July.
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No objection to Pranab's candidature for presidency: Karunanidhi -
Chennai, May 5 - DMK today gave its backing to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as UPA's presidential candidate. "If he is the candidate of the UPA coalition, the DMK will not hesitate to back his candidature," DMK chief M Karunanidhi told reporters here. |
