Tuesday, July 17, 2012 Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress will vote for Pranab Mukherjee in the July 19 presidential polls, reports an Indian television channel.The decision was taken at a meeting in Kolkata on Tuesday where Banerjee met some important MLAs and MPs of her party. Announcing the decision Banerjee said, "We did not have a choice. We are supporting him individually. It is a political decision."
She added she had spoken to PM Manmohan Singh and informed him of the Trinamool Congress' decision, NDTV reports on its online edition.
The Congress is likely to be relieved at Banerjee's last-minute decision to support Pranab Mukherjee.
"I had invited him to tea once but he couldn't come. I hope after becoming President he will come," said Banerjee, extending an olive branch to the former finance minister.
She had fallen out with the UPA last month after she rejected Pranab Mukherjee as the coalition's candidate for President of India. The Trinamool Congress, was the only UPA member which had opposed Mukherjee's candidacy. Mukherjee, who had written to Banerjee seeking her support, welcomed the Trinamool Congress' decision.
The Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari on Tuesday thanked all the political parties that have come out in support of Mukherjee. "We are a grateful to the Trinamool Congress and this will allow Pranab Mukherjee be elected by a greater margin," he said.
Banerjee was also not on board with Ansari's as vice-president. The UPA meet on Saturday to finalise a name for Vice President was attended by Mukul Roy on behalf of Ms Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.
Roy, who is railway minister, opposed Ansari's candidature. Instead, he suggested the names of former Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Krishna Bose, a relative of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
It's unlikely that Banerjee will support Mr Ansari given that he was endorsed for the post five years ago by her arch rival, the Left.
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