The filing of nominations for the July 19th Presidential polls began today with the issue of notification by the Election Commission. The filing of nominations will continue till 30th of this month. After scrutiny on July 2, candidates can withdraw their nominations by July 4.
The votes of the Presidential election through secret ballots will be counted on July 22—two days before the incumbent President’s, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, term ends. The electoral college for the Presidential poll is 4,896, comprising 776 Members of both Houses of Parliament and 4,120 Members of the State Legislative Assemblies, including those of Delhi and Puducherry.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has nominated senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as their candidate for the Presidential poll. The UPA has also appealed to all parties to extend their support to Mr Mukherjee.
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi announced his candidature at an UPA meeting that took place at the Prime Minister's residence on Friday. Mrs. Gandhi said Mukherjee had long experience of public service and enjoyed wide spread support cutting across party lines.
Reacting to his nomination, Mr Mukherjee thanked the UPA Chairperson. Mr. Mukherjee said he had accepted the candidature with humility and felt deeply honoured to be the UPA nominee for the President's post.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Mukherjee said that in his long political career spanning over five decades, he had been fortunate to receive love, affection and confidence of his party colleagues and also the members and leaders of all political parties.
Mr. Mukherjee said he was deeply indebted to them and would now again seek their indulgence and support for the next few weeks. He said consultations would be held by the UPA with all parties.
Describing Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee as his sister, Mukherjee also sought the support of her party in the Presidential polls.
Soon after UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi announced Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for the President's post, a number of political parties extended their support for the veteran Congress leader.
Announcing his party's support, Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said Mr. Mukherjee was an able, experienced and scholarly parliamentarian.
BSP chief Mayawati also extended her party's unequivocal support to Mukherjee. She said Mr. Mukherjee was the most capable, mature and correct presidential candidate.
DMK chief M. Karunanidhi also welcomed Mukherjee's candidature for the President's post. In a letter to the Congress President, Mr. Karunanidhi said, Mukherjee was a multi-dimensional personality and he was eminently suitable to the post of President.
Rashtriya Janta Dal chief Laloo Yadav and Jok Janshakti Party President Ram Vilas Paswan have also extended their parties' support to Mr. Mukherjee.
Meanwhile, the BJP core group is meeting today in New Delhi to discuss the presidential polls. The party is expected to finalise its stand in the meeting. The NDA is also likely to meet on Sunday to take a call on this.
In another development, the NCP has asked P.A. Sangma to withdraw from contesting the Presidential polls. Senior Party leader and Union Minister Praful Patel said in New Delhi that the party's line was to unconditionally support Pranab Mukherjee for the top constitutional post.
Mr. Patel also said that did not enjoy the support of the NCP and he should not defy the party's direction or the line of thinking.
