Patna:
On July 12, Pranab Mukherjee will head to Ranchi to ask MPs and state legislators to vote for him in the election for President of India. This is also the closest the former Finance Minister may get to neighbouring Patna.
Sources say that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is not keen on Mr Mukherjee canvassing in his capital city in deference to his political partner, the BJP. Mr Kumar has promised that his party, the Janata Dal (United) will vote for Mr Mukherjee in the election on July 19. The BJP has decided to support Mr Mukherjee's opponent, former speaker PA Sangma. The fact that Mr Kumar has endorsed the candidate of the ruling UPA coalition has led to speculation that he is nearing break point with the BJP, with who he runs his government in Bihar.
Mr Kumar said today that he wants "Pranab Babu to visit Bihar after becoming the President." The Chief Minister said, "Bihar is the land of the first President of the country, so Pranab Mukherjee will visit Bihar first." He added, "Our party Janata Dal (United) is supporting Pranab Mukherjee as an individual leader and a politician with the longest experience. We are not supporting the UPA."
Meanwhile, Mr Kumar's political rival, former Chief Minister Lalu Yadav has said he will lead his legislators to Ranchi to welcome Mr Mukherjee. Since his fall from grace in Bihar, Lalu has been worried about being marginalised at the Centre too. Sources say he is worried that if Mr Kumar gets closer to the Congress, he may be further side-lined. So his march to Ranchi is seen as a sign to prove his loyalty to the Congress and its presidential candidate.
Lalu has five MPs and 27 state legislators from Bihar and Jharkhand. Mr Kumar has 20 MPs and 119 MLAs.
The presidential election puts at par the votes of all MPs with those of state legislators across the country.