Pranab launches campaign, meets Karunanidhi

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Launching his campaign for the Presidential election in which he appears set for a cakewalk, UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday appealed to political parties which have not supported him to back his candidature, apparently eyeing Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

Mukherjee met UPA's key partner DMK President M. Karunanidhi at his CIT Nagar residence here, formally kick-starting the campaign.

The former Finance Minister, who enjoys a close rapport with Karunanidhi having been the emissary of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on many occasions, said it was natural to start the campaign from here as DMK was a stable partner of UPA.

"DMK is a stable partner of UPA-I and UPA II. Therefore, it is quite natural that I have started my campaign with the blessings and support of Dr Karunanidhi and from Chennai itself...,” Mukherjee told reporters ahead of his meeting with MPs and MLAs of Congress and other UPA allies to enlist their support.

Mukherjee, who is pitted against former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma, said that apart from UPA, Samajwadi Party, BSP, CPI (M), Forward Bloc, JD(U) and Shiv Sena have extended their support to his candidature.

"I am seeking the support of those political parties who have not yet declared their choice for the Presidential election..", he said.

His remarks are apparently aimed wooing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had promoted the candidacy of former President A.P.J Abdul Kalam, rejecting Congress President Sonia Gandhi's proposal on Mukherjee.