Pranab Mukherjee trying to split party: Trinamool Congress

NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress, which has made up its mind to stay away from voting in the presidential election, on Wednesday accused UPA candidate and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee of trying to split the party.

TMC, which made public its displeasure over Mukherjee's attempts to woo Trinamool's rebel MP Kabir Suman, said the finance minister was indulging in "unethical" moves.

"Pranab M directly called up a TMC MP seeking support. Politically ethical to do? Or trying to break TMC? Try & try again. Won't break," Trinamool spokesperson Derek O' Brien tweeted.

"Lots of Breaking News on President polls. But 'he' who is trying to Break TMC can try another 1000 times... Your time starts now," Derek tweeted again. Suman had assured Mukherjee of his support.

Congress denied having made any attempt to split Trinamool. "Nobody has ever made such an allegation against Pranab Mukherjee. We cannot believe it," said party spokesman Rashid Alvi.

Mukherjee had also contacted BJP's Karnataka leader BS Yeddyurappa. He told Mukherjee that party MPs from Karnataka cannot be expected to go against the candidate sponsored by the Opposition.