Will not be tame Prez, says Pranab; meets Thackeray

Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee on Friday indicated he would not be a tame President though he thinks the post is significantly ceremonial. He also revealed that it was Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar who had proposed his name first.

Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee on Friday indicated he would not be a tame President though he thinks the post is significantly ceremonial.

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He also revealed that it was Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar who had proposed his name first.

On Friday, Mukherjee assured legislators and MPs from the Congress, NCP and other political parties in Maharashtra and Goa that he would do the job to the best of his ability. “The president’s job is to protect, preserve and defend the Indian Constitution. The constitution is more than a legal document because it reflects people’s aspirations.”

Expressing gratitude for the love and support, Mukherjee said, “I am revealing a secret today. It was Pawar who proposed my name at our meeting. After that, support came from all quarters.”

Mukherjee also named Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for his support though his party isn’t part of the United Progressive Alliance-2.

Later in the evening, Mukherjee called on Thackeray at his Bandra residence.

Shiv sena chief Bal Thackeray said supporting UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee instead of NDA candidate PA Sangma was purely a practical decision.

“Sangma is my good friend but friendship and caste cannot be the basis for supporting the presidential candidate,” Thackeray said after his meeting with Mukherjee.

The much-talked about meeting between political heavyweights, which was also attended by Pawar, lasted 15-minutes.