At the same time, he made it clear that he was "not ruling out" any name when he asked whether the Congress' refusal to come out with a categorical response on Mukherjee's candidature means he is being ruled out.
Alvi also said that he was unable to understand "why media is in a hurry".
Party leaders speaking on condition of anonymity said that ruling out Mukherjee's candidature at this stage is indeed difficult, when a number of allies and other parties have officially and unofficially already named him as their preferred candidate.
A leader at the same time dismissed contentions that Vice President Hamid Ansari's candidature can be ruled out now. "You never know what happens in politics finally," was his refrain.
I am afraid I do not know: Pranab on Prez poll
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Will support whoever Sonia chooses as prez: Karuna
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Guess who Sonia wants as President!