The UPA stands to gain in the forthcoming presidential election as it has received support from the SP, BSP, JD(U), CPI(M), Shiv Sena, RJD, Janata Dal(S) and the Forward Bloc. But the TDP, TRS and Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress have yet to make their stands clear. The Trinamul Congress had earlier opposed Mr Mukherjee. But it has been maintaining silence after the UPA announced Mr Mukherjee’s candidature and other parties announced their support for him. The Trinamul will find it difficult to abstain in this election, like the CPI and RSP plan to do, as this will not only not go down well in West Bengal, it will also put a question mark on the Trinamul continuing in the UPA. On the other hand, Mr Sangma cannot be the Trinamul’s natural choice for obvious reasons. Ms Banerjee will find it difficult to keep its MPs and legislators together if she “imposes” a decision, because of Bengali asmita.
The BJP is going to be a loser in this election after “borrowing” Mr Sangma, who was originally the candidate of the BJD and AIADMK. This has split the NDA with the JD(U) and Shiv Sena coming out openly against the decision. Now, BJP insiders are unsure whether party MPs will vote for Mr Sangma because a section of the BJP favours Mr Mukherjee, who has been managing the floor in Parliament since 2004.