PM reaches out to parties, seeks support for Mukherjee

June 15, 2012 | National News | Written by

New Delhi, June 15: With the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominating Pranab Mukherjee as its presidential candidate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday reached out to various political parties, including the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to seek their support.

Soon after Mukherjee’s name was announced by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Singh called Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley respectively to inform them of the development, and sought their support, sources said.

He also called up Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Communist Party of India leader A B Bardhan and former Prime Minister and JD (S) leader H D Devegowda.

The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have expressed their support for 77-year-old Mukherjee in the presidential election.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat also congratulated the UPA for selecting Mukherjee as the candidate for the top job, but said her party would decide on the issue of supporting him after consulting other Left parties. (ANI)