Mayawati backs Pranab Mukherjee in Presidential election

Lucknow -  Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has come out in full support of UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee, saying it is  our moral duty to ensure his victory.
 
Mayawati, who has directed all her party MPs and MLAs to vote in favour of Mukherjee, said she would also make efforts to ensure that the various other political parties back him in the race  to Raisina Hill.
 
"We pray that he wins with a record margin. Since we have supported him, it is our moral duty to ensure his victory. We will make all possible efforts to enlist other parties who have not yet  declared their support," she said.
 
Meanwhile, Congress leader Jagdambika Pal said that with a host of parties lining up behind Mukherjee, his victory was certain.
 
"He has the support of Uttar Pradesh's Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, Janata Dal-United, Shiv Sena and many regional parties of the country. With the way Sangma is questioning  him, it has become clear that he is prepared for defeat. The NDA has also been unmasked. When they had supported A. P. J Abdul Kalam, the Congress had gone with their decision," he said. 

Mukherjee, who met Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati and several Congress leaders here on Tuesday,  expressed his gratitude for the support he received.
 
"Uttar Pradesh is the state where many parties such as the SP, BSP, Congress and their supporting parties, as well as most small parties and independents have supported me. Therefore, I  came here to thank them," he said.
 
Pranab Mukherjee is pitted against former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma, who is supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and  the AIADMK.
 
Mukherjee, who resigned as the finance minister to contest the presidential election, is all set to emerge victorious in the race to Raisina Hill.
 
His resignation brought an end to a distinguished 43-year-long political career.
 
The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.
 
Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24.