Mayawati backs Pranab as Prez

"Of all the names which have come to the fore, Mukherjee is the most capable, mature and correct candidate and the BSP has decided to vote in his favour," Mayawati told news persons here.

She exuded confidence that he (Mukherjee) would win by a good margin.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had called me soon after making the announcement asking for my party's support to Mukherjee. On my party's behalf, I have given my full support to him," she told reporters.

"It was in national interest that we lend support to the UPA, we have decided to support Pranab and it is a good thing that they have announced the name of a good candidate," she said.

To a question, Mayawati said in the past 48 hours the country has seen Samajwadi Party and its chief Mulayam Singh Yadav doing flip-flop several times.

"While at a press conference he and Mamata Banerji named three people as their candidates but later the SP said that they were their (Mamata's) candidates," she said.

Mayawati said Pranab Mukherjee alone is not responsible as Finance Minister for the various problems being faced by country but the entire government is responsible for it.

When her attention was drawn towards UPA government denying a special package to her government in UP, Mayawati said she had never criticised Mukherjee for it.

"I had never met him for the special package... I Had met the Prime Minister several times for it and he had also assured me on the same," she said, adding, she was still supporting the UPA as she did not want communal forces to gain strength.