UPA Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said though the post of the President of India was a ceremonial one, it had got adequate powers to protect, preserve and defend the Constitution of India. He said the President has also to defend, protect and preserve the federal structure, directive principles and fundamental rights.
Mukherjee, who was given a rousing welcome by the ruling Congress and it's co partner Nationalist Congress Party, was addressing a meeting of legislators, MPs of these parties and also of Samajwadi Party, Peasants and Workers Party who are supporting his candidature.
He once again rejected his rival and NDA supported candidate PA Sangma for a debate between the two. “Such debate takes place in countries like the US and France, where the elected president becomes CEO who formulate policies and programmes. However, the situation is very different in India, where the executive powers are vested in the prime minister-led council of ministers,” he noted.
To a question on deciding mercy petitions by the President of India, Pranab declined to comment citing legal and constitutional provisions in this regard.
Mukherjee said during his ministerial tenure in the successive Congress-led governments he worked as one of the team members. “I am quite confident that Congress party is such a major organisation with a lot of capable leaders. Therefore, a vaccum will be filled up,” he viewed.
He later met Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray to personally thank him for extending support to his Presidential candidature. He was accompanied by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.