Left parties split over support to Mukherjee

Differences cropped up among the Left parties over the issue of supporting the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominee and Congress veteran Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential race. While the CPI(M) and the Forward Bloc have declared they will support Mukherjee, CPI and RSP have decided to abstain from voting. Constituents of the Left Front met in the capital this evening, but failed to arrive at a consensus, with each party deciding to take an independent stand.

CPI(M) Prakash Karat said, “The CPI(M) has decided to support Pranab Mukherjee. In this situation, he is the candidate for the post of President.”

The CPI-M politburo had met this morning to discuss the Presidential poll. While the Bengal unit of the CP-M was in favour of supporting Mukherjee, the Kerala unit of the party was not so inclined.

Forward Bloc General Secretary Debabrata Biswas said his party was not in favour of abstaining.

RSP General Secretary T J Chandrachoodan said his party would abstain from voting.

CPI has also decided to abstain from voting. Speaking to Business Standard, Gurudas Dasgupta, referring to Mukherjee, said, “The architect of neo-liberal economic policy does not deserve our support.”