No regrets on not becoming PM: Pranab
30 Jun 2012 1:20 AM GMT
UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee says he has no regrets that he could not become India's prime minister.
In an interview to TV channel, the veteran Congress leader also ruled out a debate with opposition-backed nominee Purno Sangma and said that coalition politics was here to stay.
'I don't regret that,' Mukherjee said, when asked if he felt bad that he could not become the prime minister despite his vast experience in politics.
'I'm repeating that Manmohan Singh is one of the finest persons and worthy person to be the prime minister.
'After Nehruji and Indiraji, he will be the next man to complete a second term. So no regret at all.'
Mukherjee turned down former Lok Sabha speaker Sangma's call for a debate between the two candidates ahead of the July 19 presidential election.
'[The] issue is not about debate. Debate on what?' asked Mukherjee, who is the candidate of the United Progressive Alliance.
'[The Indian] president is a figurehead. Debate takes place on issues... on the issues determined by the political parties.
'[The] Indian president does not determine policy. Here president is not the policymaker. In the name of the president, the cabinet takes the policy decision.'
Mukherjee described Sangma as 'a bright man' and said: 'Yes, I love him.' The Congress leader came out against conscience vote - which Sangma has advocated in a bid to overcome his numerical disadvantage in the electoral college.
'What is conscience vote? When the party decides, is the member going to say it's against his conscience!'
In an interview to TV channel, the veteran Congress leader also ruled out a debate with opposition-backed nominee Purno Sangma and said that coalition politics was here to stay.
'I don't regret that,' Mukherjee said, when asked if he felt bad that he could not become the prime minister despite his vast experience in politics.
'I'm repeating that Manmohan Singh is one of the finest persons and worthy person to be the prime minister.
'After Nehruji and Indiraji, he will be the next man to complete a second term. So no regret at all.'
Mukherjee turned down former Lok Sabha speaker Sangma's call for a debate between the two candidates ahead of the July 19 presidential election.
'[The] issue is not about debate. Debate on what?' asked Mukherjee, who is the candidate of the United Progressive Alliance.
'[The Indian] president is a figurehead. Debate takes place on issues... on the issues determined by the political parties.
'[The] Indian president does not determine policy. Here president is not the policymaker. In the name of the president, the cabinet takes the policy decision.'
Mukherjee described Sangma as 'a bright man' and said: 'Yes, I love him.' The Congress leader came out against conscience vote - which Sangma has advocated in a bid to overcome his numerical disadvantage in the electoral college.
'What is conscience vote? When the party decides, is the member going to say it's against his conscience!'
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