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Pranab for President? Sonia calls 'silent' Mamata for talks
Clean Media Correspondent
New Delhi, June 12 (CMC) Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Delhi today, possibly in a bid to find a consensus candidate for the President.
Mamata will leave for Delhi in the evening. The meeting between the two is slated for tomorrow, the chief minister's office said.
Trinamool Congress sources said the talks were likely to hinge on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's candidacy for the top post and whether Mamata would support him.
Mamata so far has been silent about Mukherjee. Instead, she had earlier said her first choice would be Speaker Meira Kumar. However, TMC top leaders said Sonia Gandhi may 'persuade' Mamata to support Pranab if he was the Congress' choice for President.
The 'first Bengali President' factor may also influence her, TMC leaders said. Party leaders believe Mamata will also be told by Sonia who her choice for President would be.
The Trinamool Congress is also seeking a financial package from the Centre but the Congress has dismissed any possibility of a quid pro quo.
The Trinamool Congress had yesterday deputed West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra for talks with Pranab Mukherjee, widely speculated to be UPA's Presidential candidate, over the package issue. But discussions remained inconclusive.
Mamata had said yesterday she was yet to know the outcome of the meeting between Mukherjee and Mitra on the package, which is seen as her bargaining chip for support to a UPA nominee.
The UPA chairperson has already held discussions with DMK chief Karunanidhi, NCP leader Sharad Pawar and RLD chief Ajit Singh on the Presidential candidate.
Pranab for President? Sonia calls 'silent' Mamata for talks
Clean Media Correspondent
New Delhi, June 12 (CMC) Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Delhi today, possibly in a bid to find a consensus candidate for the President.
Mamata will leave for Delhi in the evening. The meeting between the two is slated for tomorrow, the chief minister's office said.
Trinamool Congress sources said the talks were likely to hinge on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's candidacy for the top post and whether Mamata would support him.
Mamata so far has been silent about Mukherjee. Instead, she had earlier said her first choice would be Speaker Meira Kumar. However, TMC top leaders said Sonia Gandhi may 'persuade' Mamata to support Pranab if he was the Congress' choice for President.
The 'first Bengali President' factor may also influence her, TMC leaders said. Party leaders believe Mamata will also be told by Sonia who her choice for President would be.
The Trinamool Congress is also seeking a financial package from the Centre but the Congress has dismissed any possibility of a quid pro quo.
The Trinamool Congress had yesterday deputed West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra for talks with Pranab Mukherjee, widely speculated to be UPA's Presidential candidate, over the package issue. But discussions remained inconclusive.
Mamata had said yesterday she was yet to know the outcome of the meeting between Mukherjee and Mitra on the package, which is seen as her bargaining chip for support to a UPA nominee.
The UPA chairperson has already held discussions with DMK chief Karunanidhi, NCP leader Sharad Pawar and RLD chief Ajit Singh on the Presidential candidate.
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