The Congress has rejected Presidential contestant P. A. Sangma's demand for a debate with UPA's Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee. The party termed Sangama's demand as illogical and a nonstarter as the President is not supposed to manage the economy. Party spokesman . Manish Tewari said in New Delhi that the Constitution does not ordain or mandate that the President of India manage the economy of the country.

He also rejected BJP's allegation that a consensus could not be built on the issue of Presidential election because the ruling alliance did not talk to the opposition before finalising its candidate. He reminded that in 2002, when the NDA had decided on the name of A P J Abdul Kalam as a presidential candidate, the UPA had supported its candidate without any rancour.

Expressing confidence that Mukherjee will receive the widest possible support across the political spectrum, Tewari said the BJP should realize that politics should not always be inspired by opportunism.