Pranab visits Kashmir on poll campaign

Srinagar, July 15 (IANS) United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee arrived here Sunday to meet Jammu and Kashmir leaders ahead of the July 19 poll, even as he again appealed to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to support him.

"I am hopeful of Mamata Banerjee's support," Mukherjee told reporters here.

He met Congress legislators and later called on People's Democratic Party (PDP) patron and former state chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed at the latter's residence in the city.

PDP sources said Sayeed had assured Pranab of his party's support during the election.

"Welcome Mr. President," Sayeed is reported to have told Mukherjee when he arrived.

Sayeed is also reported to have expressed his happiness over the almost certain victory of the UPA presidential candidate.

"He would not be a rubber stamp president in any case," a PDP source cited Sayeed as saying.

Independent legislator Engineer Rashid, who also met Mukherjee, Sunday evening issued a statement saying he had given a memorandum to Mukherjee seeking clemency for the parliament attack convict, Afzal Guru. Rashid hoped Mukherjee would act on this once he gets elected as the country's next president.