Election for President's post on July 19

Pranab thanks friends for support in race, says he'll go by what the party decides.

India will have a new President on July 21. According to an Election Commission announcement today, the election to decide India's next President will be held on July 19 and the counting will be held on July 21.

While the ruling UPA is yet to decide whom to field, the Election Commission today set into motion the process of elections by declaring June 30 as the last day for filing of nominations. The scrutiny is scheduled for June 2 and the last date for withdrawal is June 4.

On the political front, the late night arrival of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK supremo K Karunanidhi to New Delhi ensured no activity in the UPA camp today.

Karunanidhi, after landing at the airport here, drove to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence, where Congress President Sonia Gandhi too was present. He said two-three names were discussed. The announcement of the candidate was expected on June 15, sources said.

Today's most unsettling move was made by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who released his second clarification in less than a month.

The clarification, issued by the Ministry of External Affairs and not the Congress office, referred to "a number of speculative and tendentious stories" involving him. The subtext, however, had a bite.

"While I am grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by some leaders, I reiterate that my role in the party and government is decided by the Congress leadership," the text said, indicating clearly that he was grateful to the Left for supporting his candidature.

"The chairperson of UPA would announce the name of the Congress candidate for the presidential elections after completing the process of consultations with the UPA allies and supporting parties," the statement said.

This follows widespread apprehension among Mukherjee's friends in the party as several of his associates have noted efforts by Gandhi's advisers to paint Mukherjee as a candidate of the Left parties.

This is the main argument used to shoot down Mukherjee's nomination, with his rivals playing on the imagined fears of 10, Janpath, that if elevated to Rashtrapati Bhavan, he might undermine the Congress' prospects of forming a government in 2009.

"We really don't know what he might do if pushed to the corner "� he might quit the government entirely. This situation has to be prevented," said a top government source in the Congress.

The Left continued to keep its own counsel on Shivraj Patil, underscoring its reluctance to endorse him "� especially as their first reaction to Pranab Mukherjee's possible nomination was both enthusiastic and spontaneous.

This gave a further handle to Congress managers to argue that Mukherjee was manipulating the Left to pressure the Congress "� a charge Mukherjee met with dignity by issuing a statement today.