NEW DELHI, June 15: In an indication of some rift between the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress over the presidential candidate, and the possibility of Mulayam Singh Yadav finally backing the UPA candidate, his party’s spokesperson Ram Gopal Yadav today suggested that former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam could be only Mamata Bannerjee’s candidate.
Though, Trinamool Congress chief Ms Banerjee claimed that there were no differences with the SP on the Presidential candidate, and Mr Yadav would support Dr Kalam, the words used by the SP Spokesperson were significant.
When pointed out by reporters that Ms Banerjee had last evening
said “Dr Kalam is our candidate”, he said the word “our” could be used for singular person as well and in that sense “our candidate” would mean “my candidate”.
He added that his party would not join the UPA, but would not force a mid-term election on the country either as it did not want to place an additional economic burden on the national exchequer.
However, without attaching much significance to the SP spokesperson’s words, the TMC chief said the reports that the SP has having a rethink on the issue was wrong.
The SP along with TMC had on Tuesday declared Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Dr Klaam and former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee as their choices for President, but yesterday, the SP kept mum over the issue while Ms Banerjee after meeting Mr Yadav told reporters that “Dr Kalam is our candidate”.
Both Mr Yadva and Mr Ramgopal Yadav today left for Lucknow, and Ms Banerjee for Kolkata without attending today’s meeting of the UPA allies over the issue.
The Opposition NDA today held a meeting to discuss the emerging political scene.
(UNI)
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