By IANS,
New Delhi : Within minutes of the announcement of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee being the ruling UPA’s presidential candidate, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated him through a tweet.
“Congratulations to Pranab Da. I have no doubt he will make an excellent president & I’m pleased to have been able to commit NC’s support,” Abdullah said in a message on his Twitter page Friday.
Abdullah hoped former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, whose name was proposed by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, does not contest.
“For what it’s worth I hope former President #Kalam does not fall prey to the petty politics being played out. I hope he doesn’t contest,” he said in another tweet.
He also took a dig at Banerjee. “And finally before I take off back to Srinagar a final thought – how on earth will Mamata explain opposing a Bengali for President?”
Congress president Sonia Gandhi made the formal announcement after a meeting of her party and its allies, saying Mukherjee had to his credit a “long and distinguished record of public service for five decades”.
She said he enjoyed broad support for holding the country’s top post.
The UPA also appealed to all political parties, MPs and members of state assemblies to extend support for Mukherjee’s candidature.
The presidential election will take place July 19.