First, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee turned down the proposal to go for President post. To make Vajpayee was actually the brainchild of Trinamool Congress leader Mamta Banerjee. The NDA leaders acclaimed the proposal but Vajpayee showed no interest and denied the proposal by issuing a statement from his side.
Now, it was the turn of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to turned down the proposal to make him the President of India. Despite, of coming positive indication from left parties and from top leaders in the Government, Pranab Mukherjee distanced himself from the debate. On the other hand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on this matter that it was too premature to comment anything on this.
As there is no indication coming from Congress high command, Pranab does not want to project himself as fit for the post. He issued a statement to the media. I would like to state that I am a Congressman. The Congress leadership decides my role in the party and in the Government. Whatever responsibilities are assigned to me, I try to discharge those to the best of my capabilities.
Earlier, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury had made it confirm that the Left parties would support Mukherjee’s name for the top job. The real problem is that Pranab has taken charge of foreign ministry that was vacant for so many months after the resignation of Natwar Singh.
The question will remain same as it was earlier for several months that who next? Further, Pranab is working as head of more than 50 Group of Ministers. Could the UPA government afford to spare him from cabinet. He enjoys the status as the number three after Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh in UPA.
However, his departure from the cabinet will be a good news for his competitors in the UPA and the previous contenders for the top job in the Ministry of External Affairs. PM himself has opted not to comment and so Pranab did because the final decision would come from 10, Janpath.
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