Kolkata:
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee announced her party's stand on the presidential election after a meeting in Kolkata today where Ms Banerjee met the some important MLAs and MPs of her party.
Here are the highlights of her presser:
- Not all decisions taken by us have been correct
- It is upto people to decide whether our decisions have been right
- We have fought a rise in petrol prices
- We wanted Kalam to be President, but he decided not to run. That is our misfortune
- We have two choices - to vote with UPA or BJP and other parties
- Decision is very difficult for us
- We have to decide whether to vote at all - or who to vote for
- We have 50,000 votes
- We are second-largest party in UPA alliance
- So we will vote for Pranab Mukherjee
- We are not happy about this but we have no choice
- I wish we could do this with a smile
- But this is in the interest of democracy
- We are not supporting him individually... It's a political decision
- Even if we don't vote, Pranab will get votes... so might as well vote for him
- Only option where we can apply our voting rights
- When Pranab wasn't in the Congress, when he was alone, I used to support him myself
- I had taken him to Tripura and tried to get him an entry into Congress
- I have met him 15-20 times
- I had invited him to tea once but he couldn't come then... I hope after becoming the President he will come
- I hope he becomes the President, he remains hale and hearty and does good for this nation and its people
- PM is very happy, he told me today also to support Pranab.. I told him, you'll be happy to know our party has decided to support Pranab
- Pranab Mukherjee after Mamata's announcement: "I welcome Mamata Banerjee's decision."