Forgot your password?
Pranab Mukherjee Nominated For Indian Presidential Post
BBC NEWS, INDIA
June 15, 2012: India's Congress-led coalition alliance has declared Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as its candidate for the post of the country's president. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has appealed for cross-party support for the 77-year-old veteran politician.
"I am grateful to the Congress president for this recognition," Mr Mukherjee said in a statement.
Elections for India's 13th president will be held on 19 July. The winner will replace Pratibha Patil. She is the first woman to hold India's highest constitutional post.
Two important regional parties, the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party, have already announced their support for Mr Mukherjee.
The debate over the presidential candidates had sharpened with Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, a government ally, backing former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
The presidency is largely a ceremonial post but with a fragmented electorate often throwing up precariously placed coalition governments, a lot depends on his or her judgment and impartiality.
Mr Mukherjee is seen as a close confidant of Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi. He has previously held key portfolios in the government, including foreign, home, defense and trade ministries.
The opposition alliance, led by the BJP, has yet to announce its candidate.
Members of both houses of parliament and regional assemblies vote for the office of the Indian president.
