Will I forge my own signature, asks Pranab

Thiruvananthapuram: UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday denied his signature in his letter of resignation from the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was fake.

"Will I forge my own signature? A forgery takes place when someone forges someone else's signature," Mukherjee told the media as he arrived in Thiruvananthapuram to campaign for the presidential election.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had alleged that his signature was forged. The returning officer in the presidential election, however, rejected the charge and said there was no reason to disqualify Mukherjee.

Pranab denied that his signature in his letter of resignation from the Indian Statistical Institute was fake.

"I am here because I am the candidate. As a candidate I consider it my responsibility to meet all those who are supporting me," he said.

"This is the fifth state I am visiting."

Asked why the Trinamool Congress had not yet supported him, he replied, "I hope she (Mamata Banerjee) will extend her support to me."

He met leaders of all the parties barring the Communist Party of India and the Revolutionary Socialist Party who have decided to abstain from the presidential polls.

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