EVEN before the ruling Congress could make up its mind about the UPA's nominee in the Presidential election,All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) chief Mamata Banerjee has shown red flag to two frontrunners in the race to Raisina Hill - Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. She is learnt to have conveyed to the Congress leadership that she would not prefer either of the candidates,although,for the record,the AITC has maintained that it would reveal its cards only after the election date is announced. Banerjee had called on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi early this month. While Barnerjee is not known to be at the best of terms with Mukherjee,she does not seem to be very enthused about the candidature of Ansari who had got the Left's backing leading to his election as Vice-President of India in 2007. When contacted,senior Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay denied it saying,"So far,the Congress has not put up any names for discussions,nor have we thought of any names." While Congress sources said Banerjee's opposition could mean the end of road for Ansari,they remain sanguine about Mukherjee's candidature and believe that she could still be persuaded to back him if her other demands relating to bailout package for the state are met. But her opposition has forced the Congress to keep its options open,said the sources maintaining that the UPA will remain "united" and put up a consensus candidate notwithstanding how the numbers are stacked. With former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma throwing his hat in the ring and even getting the backing of Orissa and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers,the Congress is not left with many options. If other parties come around to back Sangma's candidature leading to a contest,Mukherjee could have a good chance of getting party's nomination given his acceptance across party lines,said Congress sources. "While Pranab Mukherjee remains the front-runner,Mamata Banerjee could certainly bring the dark horse in the race," a senior Congress leader told The Indian Express. Meanwhile,on Friday,Sangma met NCP chief Sharad Pawar who has dissociated his party from the former Lok Sabha Speaker's Presidential bid saying that with a limited strength his party cannot aspire for such a major post. After meeting Pawar,Sangma said the NCP is part of the UPA and its stance will be consistent with that of the UPA. Sources said the NCP chief was "neither opposed to nor in favour of" Sangma's Presidential bid and coveyed to the latter that as a part of the UPA government,the party could not back his bid.
