No one can become president on his wish: Pranab

With his candidature for the president's post gaining momentum, Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said no one can become president "on his own wish" and the Congress would decide on the issue.

"It is decided by the party. Party nominates. No one can become president on his own wish," the finance minister told the media at his residence in Kolkata.

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United Progressive Alliance sources had said on Friday that Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who has been authorised by the party's Working Committee to pick the candidate, is likely to make the announcement around June 15, probably a couple of days after the expected poll notification by the Election Commission.

The Congress president's Political Advisor Ahmed Patel also had a meeting with Mukherjee at his North Block office on Friday.

The sources said the Congress has already secured the support of key allies like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Nationalist Congress Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal, who form part of the government, and outside supporters like Samajwadi Party.

The Bahujan Samaj Party, another outside supporter, and UPA's second largest constituent Trinamool Congress, are not expected to oppose the UPA candidate.

Asked about Congress ally Trinamool Congress' decision to go it alone in next year's panchayat election in West Bengal, Mukherjee said, "It will be decided by the WBPCC. I have no comments to make."

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