With P A Sangma staying in the Presidential fray, the Congress on Wednesday said the contest was part of democracy but it would not pose a problem for Pranab Mukherjee who is sure to become the President.
"Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi have appealed to all parties to support Pranab Mukherjee as a Presidential candidate.... Even after this, if any party or any alliance want to field a candidate, they can do so as this is also a part of democracy," Congress
spokesperson Rashid Alvi told the media.
"Pranab Mukhkerjee is sure to become the President of the country. He will have no problem at all (in winning the Presidential election)," he said.
Asked about Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien's comment on micro blogging site Twitter wondering whether Mukherjee was trying to break the TMC by directly calling on a party member of Parliament (Kabir Suman), Alvi said, "Nobody ever levelled such an allegation against Pranab. It is difficult to believe this."