Divide in NDA over Pranab Mukherjee as President?

New Delhi: The crucial meeting of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to decide on their candidate for the July 19 presidential polls has begun in New Delhi. But whether they will support UPA-backed Pranab Mukherjee or name another candidate in the race to Raisina Hill remains to be seen.

BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Jaswant Singh, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy have arrived at BJP leader LK Advani's house for the meeting. Key NDA constituent Shiv Sena is, however, not attending the meeting. Sources say Shiv Sena is angry over delay in announcing name of NDA candidate.

There have been hectic consultations between NDA parties over deciding on the presidential candidate. While the BJP core group met at party president Nitin Gadkari's residence last night, the Akali Dal and the Janata Dal (United) held a meeting on Saturday morning.


New Delhi: The crucial meeting of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to decide on their candidate for the July 19 presidential polls has begun in New Delhi. But whether they will support UPA-backed Pranab Mukherjee or name another candidate in the race to Raisina Hill remains to be seen.

BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Jaswant Singh, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy have arrived at BJP leader LK Advani's house for the meeting. Key NDA constituent Shiv Sena is, however, not attending the meeting. Sources say Shiv Sena is angry over delay in announcing name of NDA candidate.

There have been hectic consultations between NDA parties over deciding on the presidential candidate. While the BJP core group met at party president Nitin Gadkari's residence last night, the Akali Dal and the Janata Dal (United) held a meeting on Saturday morning.

Sources say a section of the BJP is in favour of a consensus on Pranab Mukherjee, particularly since APJ Abdul Kalam, seen as a rival candidate, is unwilling to run against the Finance Minister. The JD(U), a key constituent of the NDA, is also not keen on a contest as the UPA have the numbers but a section of BJP wants the contest. And it is not averse to backing PA Sangma. And if a contest happens, BJP may seek Mamata Banerjee's support for Mr Sangma.

As its top leaders consider their options, the BJP will have to also bear in mind that AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa - who the BJP assiduously tried to woo a few months ago - has extended her support to Mr Sangma. The former Speaker and NCP leader has also received the support of Odisha Chief Minister and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik; Mr Sangma has still not bowed out of the race despite his party leadership's stern warning.

Sources also say that the NDA may ask for its own person as Vice-President in exchange for supporting UPA's candidate. The name of Punjab Chief Minister and veteran Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal and BJP's Jaswant Singh is said to have cropped up in this context.

Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral, however, rubbished the talks of any quid pro quo. "The UPA has never made an offer on the Vice-President's post. Why would NDA come into this? It's not our call," he said yesterday adding that "Parkash Singh Badal is very happy in Punjab. People of Punjab are also very happy with Badal Ji."

When asked about the possibility of Dr Kalam's candidature, Mr Gujral said the former President has never said that he is in contest for the President's post. "I am surprised that you people are creating a bad name by taking Mr Kalam's name again and again. He has a good name all over the world. And I think we demean him and we trivialize his name by taking it again and again."

Dr Kalam had avoided comment ever since an unprecedented second stint for him was suggested on Tuesday by Mamata Banerjee and the Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mr Yadav yesterday sided with the Congress, but Ms Banerjee says Dr Kalam remains her only choice.

Meanwhile, signs of wider support for Mr Mukherjee were visible on Saturday with JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari making a strong pitch for him. "Both the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have spoken in favour of his candidature for the post of President. It also seems that the Left parties of Bengal will also support Pranab Da's candidature. Majority is in support of Pranab Mukherjee. He is a senior leader, he has had a clean political career, everyone respects him. I feel he should be elected unopposed," he said. But his party chief Sharad Yadav hurriedly clarified that this was Mr Tiwari's personal view. Mr Yadav, who is the NDA convenor, was more careful with his words, "Tomorrow (Sunday) we have NDA meeting. We will decide everything in our meeting. We cannot comment on anything before our meeting. Commenting anything before meeting would not be good," he said.

The Congress is trying to get Mr Mukherjee elected unopposed. On Friday, after party chief Sonia Gandhi announced his name, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari and Sushma Swaraj to try to bring the opposition on board for a consensus on Mr Mukherjee's candidacy. He also reportedly called leaders in Parliament of all other political parties now to gather support for Mr Mukherjee. So far, Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party have decided to back him for President; and the Left too seems to be open to persuasion.

The Congress is even hopeful of garnering the NDA's support. Speaking to NDTV, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Pawan Kumar Bansal, said on Saturday, "There is no doubt that Pranab Mukherjee will be the next President. Support from all parties is pouring in. The NDA may also support him." He even said that he is "still hopeful" of estranged ally Mamata Banerjee's support as "nothing can be ruled out in politics."

After the UPA announced its candidate, some BJP leaders met at LK Advani's house in an emergency meeting on Friday night. "Before declaring their choice, had the UPA or the Congress party consulted us, it would have been nice. However, they talked to us after declaring their choice. We will still organise an NDA meeting. I have already spoken to Advani ji and Sushma ji. Tomorrow (Sunday) Arun Jaitley will also join us. We will soon organise a meeting, discuss and will declare our choice," party president Nitin Gadkari had said from Mumbai.

BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had echoed the sentiment when he said, "The NDA will meet and discuss tomorrow (Sunday). It would have been better if they (Congress) would've spoken to us before announcing their nomination."
Sources say a section of the BJP is in favour of a consensus on Pranab Mukherjee, particularly since APJ Abdul Kalam, seen as a rival candidate, is unwilling to run against the Finance Minister. The JD(U), a key constituent of the NDA, is also not keen on a contest as the UPA have the numbers but a section of BJP wants the contest. And it is not averse to backing PA Sangma. And if a contest happens, BJP may seek Mamata Banerjee's support for Mr Sangma.

As its top leaders consider their options, the BJP will have to also bear in mind that AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa - who the BJP assiduously tried to woo a few months ago - has extended her support to Mr Sangma. The former Speaker and NCP leader has also received the support of Odisha Chief Minister and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik; Mr Sangma has still not bowed out of the race despite his party leadership's stern warning.

Sources also say that the NDA may ask for its own person as Vice-President in exchange for supporting UPA's candidate. The name of Punjab Chief Minister and veteran Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal and BJP's Jaswant Singh is said to have cropped up in this context.

Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral, however, rubbished the talks of any quid pro quo. "The UPA has never made an offer on the Vice-President's post. Why would NDA come into this? It's not our call," he said yesterday adding that "Parkash Singh Badal is very happy in Punjab. People of Punjab are also very happy with Badal Ji."

When asked about the possibility of Dr Kalam's candidature, Mr Gujral said the former President has never said that he is in contest for the President's post. "I am surprised that you people are creating a bad name by taking Mr Kalam's name again and again. He has a good name all over the world. And I think we demean him and we trivialize his name by taking it again and again."

Dr Kalam had avoided comment ever since an unprecedented second stint for him was suggested on Tuesday by Mamata Banerjee and the Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mr Yadav yesterday sided with the Congress, but Ms Banerjee says Dr Kalam remains her only choice.

Meanwhile, signs of wider support for Mr Mukherjee were visible on Saturday with JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari making a strong pitch for him. "Both the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have spoken in favour of his candidature for the post of President. It also seems that the Left parties of Bengal will also support Pranab Da's candidature. Majority is in support of Pranab Mukherjee. He is a senior leader, he has had a clean political career, everyone respects him. I feel he should be elected unopposed," he said. But his party chief Sharad Yadav hurriedly clarified that this was Mr Tiwari's personal view. Mr Yadav, who is the NDA convenor, was more careful with his words, "Tomorrow (Sunday) we have NDA meeting. We will decide everything in our meeting. We cannot comment on anything before our meeting. Commenting anything before meeting would not be good," he said.

The Congress is trying to get Mr Mukherjee elected unopposed. On Friday, after party chief Sonia Gandhi announced his name, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari and Sushma Swaraj to try to bring the opposition on board for a consensus on Mr Mukherjee's candidacy. He also reportedly called leaders in Parliament of all other political parties now to gather support for Mr Mukherjee. So far, Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party have decided to back him for President; and the Left too seems to be open to persuasion.

The Congress is even hopeful of garnering the NDA's support. Speaking to NDTV, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Pawan Kumar Bansal, said on Saturday, "There is no doubt that Pranab Mukherjee will be the next President. Support from all parties is pouring in. The NDA may also support him." He even said that he is "still hopeful" of estranged ally Mamata Banerjee's support as "nothing can be ruled out in politics."

After the UPA announced its candidate, some BJP leaders met at LK Advani's house in an emergency meeting on Friday night. "Before declaring their choice, had the UPA or the Congress party consulted us, it would have been nice. However, they talked to us after declaring their choice. We will still organise an NDA meeting. I have already spoken to Advani ji and Sushma ji. Tomorrow (Sunday) Arun Jaitley will also join us. We will soon organise a meeting, discuss and will declare our choice," party president Nitin Gadkari had said from Mumbai.

BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had echoed the sentiment when he said, "The NDA will meet and discuss tomorrow (Sunday). It would have been better if they (Congress) would've spoken to us before announcing their nomination."
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