New Delhi , June 16 (ANI): Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi has hailed the decision of choosing Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as presidential candidate, saying he is the ideal choice for the coveted post.
\n\u201cPranab Mukherjee\u2019s name has been declared as the UPA candidate. We are very happy about it because his experience, his knowledge, his role in the past and his acceptance is unparallel and almost leaders of all the political parties have from time to time praised it, accepted it and lauded his role. So, I think he is the best candidate,\u201d Dwivedi told media here.
\nHowever, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain slammed the Congress party for declaring the candidate\u2019s name without developing an all-party consensus on Mukherjee.
\n\u201cThe UPA has informed about their presidential candidate after discussing it with its allies parties but they should have tried to reach on a consensus with the NDA, BJP and other non-UPA parties. The UPA has taken a one sided decision. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up opposition leader Sushma Swaraj and told her that they had zeroed in Mukherjee\u2019s name but we will take our decision after the NDA meeting,\u201d said Hussain.
\nSonia Gandhi formally announced Mukherjee as the ruling alliance\u2019s presidential candidate, which the latter accepted with humility.
\nCoalition partners also congratulated Mukherjee on his nomination, presenting him, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi with shawls.
\nThe presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.
\nIf he wins, Mukherjee will become the nation\u2019s 13th president on July 25.
\nMukherjee has served as Finance Minister, Foreign Minister and Commerce Minister twice and also as Defence Minister. He chairs most of the cabinet committees tasked with making recommendations on important issues.<\/p>\n\n