| CWC bids farewell to Pranab |
NEW DELHI The Congress on Monday bid a warm farewell to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, poised to become the country’s president, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying the veteran leader will be missed.
At a special meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), party chief Sonia Gandhi personally bid farewell to the chief troubleshooter of the party and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and expressed confidence that he would win the July 19 presidential election with a huge margin.
Pranab will file nomination for the presidential poll on June 28, All India Congress Committee General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters after the CWC meeting.
He is expected to resign from the government and the party on Tuesday.
Gandhi hailed Pranab as the senior most member of the CWC and said it was a matter of great pleasure that the UPA has made him a presidential candidate.
Singh said Pranab’s absence will be felt as he discharged many duties in the government.
The informal CWC meeting called to felicitate Pranab was attended by 20 of the 26 members, including permanent invitees.
Among those who spoke on the occasion were Defence Minister AK Antony, and senior party leaders Motilal Vora, SC Jamir, RK Dhawan, Mohsina Kidwai.
A visibly emotional Pranab, who had held a number of posts in the party and the government, said he has got much more from the party than what he had given.
He said he always considered himself as a true Congressman and did whatever is good for the party.
Pranab recalled his long association with the CWC and said he met the prime minister as part of his farewell meetings. He thanked the party for all the cooperation and for nominating him for the president’s post.
Pranab became a member of the CWC in 1978 and has been a key player in the top decision making body of the party.
Sweets, including popular Bengal delicacy ‘sandesh’, were distributed at the meeting as Congress leaders wished the 76-year-old leader a good innings ahead.
Known for his razor sharp intellect, Pranab, a quintessential Congressman, is variously described as a walking encyclopedia, chronicler of Congress history, expert in matters of constitution and governance and a stickler for rules in Parliament.
Later, Pranab received a warm send off from officials of the finance ministry.
“Soon, I will not be a part of the finance ministry, I will not be a political entity,” Pranab said in his farewell speech to his colleagues in the finance ministry.
“Tomorrow I will give my last message,” he added.
Press Trust of India
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