Presidential election: What political leaders have to say on the issue

Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister

Congress and UPA will have to set up a presidential candidate. Who will be the presidential candidate? That will be decided shortly.

Janardan Dwivedi, Congress General Secretary

We cannot afford to spare Dr Manmohan Singh as prime minister. The other two names (APJ Abdul Kalam and Somnath Chatterjee) are not acceptable

Sharad Pawar, NCP Chief

I told her ( Sonia Gandhi) that whoever UPA nominates, we will support

Ram Gopal Yadav, SP General Secretary

If NDA comes out & gives support, consensus is there. Last time too, the name of (Kalam) was suggested by Mulayam Singh Yadav. Congress & BJP supported it... he got elected

Omar Abdullah, J&K Chief Minister

That was one hell of a hail storm to hit Srinagar just now. The fi gurative storm rages in Delhi and real one hits us here, lightning and all. What I would give to be a fl y on the wall in the corridors of power in Delhi these days!

LK Advani, NDA Working Chairperson

We (Advani & Jayalalithaa) discussed the presidential election at length. What are the prospects and possibilities? The NDA is meeting (in Delhi) tomorrow to discuss the situation as it is till now

Lalu Prasad, RJD Chief

Sonia ji will have a final say over selection of the Presidential candidate irrespective of the names being fl oated by various quarters, including SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Trinamool head Mamata Banerjee.

Shivanand Tiwari, JD(U) Spokesperson

Let Congress fi rst decide. Mamata Banerjee is part of UPA alliance, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s party is part of UPA and right now this controversy is raging in the UPA fold