Pranab Mukherjee files nomination for Presidential poll

New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI): United Progressive Alliance nominee Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the Presidential election and reached out to Trinamool Congress and other parties seeking their support for the July 19 poll, which he appears set to win with a "thumping majority". Flanked by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and other leaders, Mukherjee handed over his nomination papers to V K Agnihotri, Rajya Sabha Secretary General and Returning Officer for the Presidential election. Mukherjee (77), dressed in a cream coloured 'bandhgala', appeared to be high spirits after filing his nomination. As the lensmen vied with each other to click pictures of the veteran leader, he obliged by climbing on the footboard of his car and waved his hand. Soon after completing the nomination process, Mukherjee thanked parties like Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Janata Dal (United), Communist Party of India (M), Shiv Sena and Forward Bloc for reposing faith in him and reached out to Trinamool Congress, the only UPA ally which has so far not supported his candidature. "I seek the support of all those including Trinmaool Congress, who have not yet decided...I only wish at this time that let me have the blessings of God and cooperation of all at this juncture", Mukherjee said. He said he will start his campaign on June 30 and continue till July 15. Reflecting the enthusiasm in UPA over the support for Mukherjee's candidature, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said," he (Pranab) will get votes beyond anyone's imagination. It is a one-sided affair. He will get a thumping majority". The support announced by political parties to Mukherjee's candidature so far make it clear that he was likely to get over seven lakh votes in the electoral college of 10.98 lakh. The UPA candidate is expected to visit Calcutta either on July 7 or 8 during which he is likely to meet West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Ms Mamata Banerjee. Law Minister Salman Khurshid expressed hope that Mamata will finally support Mukherjee's candidature and said,"one should always be optimist in politics.