By IANS,
Ranchi: UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee Thursday said he hoped to get West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee’s support in the presidential election.
“We are hopeful that she (Banerjee) will support me. We are told she will communicate her decision a few days before the election,” Mukherjee told reporters here.
Asked about his rival P.A. Sangma’s threat to move the Supreme Court against Mukherjee’s nomination papers, he said the returning officer and the Election Commission had rejected such pleas.
Mukherjee held a joint press conference with Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Ram Vilas Paswan.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren said India wanted to see Mukherjee as president.
Mukherjee met Soren and All Jharkhand Student Union (AJSU) chief Sudesh Mahto. Both are alliance partners of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state.
He also met Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik president Babulal Marandi. Marandi has announced his party’s support for Mukherjee.
BJP-backed candidate P.A. Sangma also had visited Ranchi Wednesday. After meeting Soren, he said he hoped to get his party’s support.
The BJP has appealed to its partners to vote for Sangma.