Presidential poll: Dinesh Trivedi hopes Trinamool Congress will back Pranab Mukherjee

WASHINGTON: Ahead of the July 19 Presidential poll, Trinamool MP Dinesh Trivedi today said UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee was the best choice for the country and hoped that his party would have a change of mind and vote for the former Finance Minister.

Trivedi, who is here as part of a Parliamentary delegation, said that he personally congratulated "Pranab Da" on his nomination for the coveted post.

Mukherjee is the best choice for the country, he told reporters responding to questions on the decision of Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool not to support the former Finance Minister for President.

Refusing to answer a question as to who he would vote for, Trivedi reminded that his party leader has called for voting based on consensus and this is what he intends to follow when it comes to voting during the Presidential poll.

He hoped that the Trinamool Congress would have a change of mind and vote for "Pranab da" at the end of the day.

62-year-old Trivedi, who was forced to step down as Railway Minister in March by Banerjee who was cut up by his rail budget which proposed hike in passenger fares, said his remarks were being made in his personal capacity and not as party spokesperson.