TDP yet to finalise its choice for presidential polls

Hyderabad, June 19 (ANI): Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said his party was yet to finalise a candidate for the presidential elections.

Talking to reporters here, Naidu said his party was in a fix over Pranab Mukherjee and Purno Agitok Sangma for the coveted post.

"Telugu Desam Party will have a discussion with the politburo. We are discussing with other political parties also. One side, UPA (United Progressive Alliance) has sponsored Pranab Mukherjee, a senior politician. Another side, Sangma (Purno Agitok Sangma, former speaker of lower house of Indian Parliament) is there. NDA (National Democratic Alliance) is going to support Sangma. We are having a delicacy. Both things we are analysing. Third front is not fielding any candidate that is the problem otherwise straight away we should have supported a third alternative that is of third front," said Naidu.

The Congress Party-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had already announced the federal Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as its candidate.

Two prominent regional outfits of India, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and All Indian Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (AIADMK) had proposed the name of former speaker of Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament), P A Sangma for the prestigious post.

Naidu said that TDP would soon announce the presidential candidate, as the party did not want to stall the prestigious election.

"At the same time we cannot outstand elections also. As a responsible party we are thinking, at the earliest one or two days we will discuss with others also and finally we are going to announce presidential candidate," said Naidu.

The Congress party, however, won support from other coalition partners for its choice and appeared confident that Mukherjee would win the Electoral College vote on July 19.

Mukherjee 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. But the job he has always wanted - that of prime minister - has eluded him.

Talking on other issues, Naidu expressed his disappointment with the state government's liquor policy.

"Yesterday government of Andhra Pradesh has announced liquor policy, it is very clear they are going to form another syndicates. Only modifications they have brought are the lottery system. It is very unfortunate," said Naidu.

The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday (June 18) announced a new Excise Policy for disposing liquor through retail shops.

The state government abolished auction system and re-introduced the fixed license fee based on population. (ANI)