New Delhi, June 25 (ANI): UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee today said he would be quitting as Finance Minister of the country on Tuesday.
“Now, of course, I am giving a farewell call. Today, my long association with the Congress Working Committee, almost for 32 years from 1978 till today. So, they bid me lots of farewell. I met Prime Minister, tomorrow I will be putting in my papers,” Mukherjee told media here after a special meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) here, which was called to felicitate him and bid farewell to him.
Congress General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi briefing the media about the CWC meeting said both party president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh lauded the role played by Mukherjee, both in the party and in the government.
“Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that Pranab Mukherjee is a very senior member of the Congress Working Committee. It is a matter of great delight that not only the Congress, but the whole UPA has selected him as their candidate with full consensus,” said Dwivedi.
“The Congress President also thanked those outside the UPA, who have lent their support to Pranab Mukherjee. She expressed hope that he will win with a huge margin and increase the pride of the country as a president,” he added.
Dwivedi said the Prime Minister also echoed similar sentiments as the Congress President, and said that the party will miss Mukherjee for he had very big responsibilities in the government.
“He expressed satisfaction and pleasure over all backing his candidature,” he added.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi were among those present at Sonia’s residence along with the CWC members and permanent invitees to acknowledge the contributions of Mukherjee, considered to be the party’s chief troubleshooter.
Mukherjee, who is all set to emerge victorious in the race for Raisina Hill, became a member of the CWC in 1978.
Mukherjee, however, is expected to announce some major economic decisions, before demitting his office to file his nominations for the presidential poll.
Mukherjee is a senior member of the Cabinet Committees on Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Parliamentary Affairs, Political Affairs, Prices, Security, Unique Identification Authority of India, World Trade Organization, and heads the Group of Ministers Committee on the Dabhol dispute.
Mukherjee had earlier said that those political parties, which had not taken any decision to support his candidature, should do so..Mukherjee will file nomination for the Presidential poll on June 28, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters after the CWC meeting.Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh was not present at the CWC meeting. Karan Singh, who was one of the aspirants for the Presidential post, was also not present. Mukherjee is expected to launch his campaign for the Presidential polls from Chennai on June 30 and then likely to visit Hyderabad and Bangalore the next day.
Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal is coordinating Mukherjee’s poll campaign, including the process of filing of nomination. An informal coordination committee has also been set up.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/upa-prez-nominee-pranab-to-step-down-today/
