We don't want Pranab as President, prefer Meira Kumar, Gopal Gandhi or Abdul Kalam: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has finally broken her silence on the crucial question of who the Trinamool Congress would support for the Presidential election. In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose, Mamata said Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, West Bengal Governor Gopal Gandhi and former President APJ Abdul Kalam were acceptable to her.

"I love Meira Kumar. She is very soft spoken. Gopal Gandhi has done good work. Kalam was a good president," Mamata said in the interview.

But importantly she refused to endorse Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for the Presidential candidate.

In an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN, Mamata said she backed Meira Kumar, Gopal Gandhi and Abdul Kalam.

"Pranab may be the son of the world, but if you ask me my choice, I'll go with Meira Kumar, Gopal Gandhi and APJ Abdul Kalam. But if the Congress wants to go with Pranab, it's their choice," Mamata said.

The interview was conducted hours after Mamata Banerjee walked out of a CNN-IBN audience show where she refused to take questions on the arrest of a professor over a cartoon and the Park Street rape controversy and called students 'Maoists'.

When asked the reason for her anger, Mamata replied, "I am a transparent person. I don't camouflage."

Mamata also ruled out any differences with the UPA government and said she wanted the UPA to complete its full term.

Also See

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