No second term: A new President will assume office, says Pranab Mukherjee
NEW DELHI: At a time when Opposition leaders have appealed to the Narendra Modi government to build a consensus of all parties to nominate Pranab Mukherjee for a second term, the President has indicated that he is getting ready for retirement.
"I have exactly two months to go. July 25, a new President will assume office," President Pranab Mukherjee said in the Capital on Thursday. This comes a day before various leaders from the Opposition are expected to meet at a lunch organised by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the presidential election.
The President said he was sending the officials who have worked with him back to their departments.
"One has gone to the commerce ministry, two from the Ministry of External Affairs as ambassadors," Mukherjee told media at the farewell tea organised for Venu Rajamony, press secretary to the President. Rajamony, IFS, has been appointed as India's envoy to The Hague.
Pranab Mukherjee, in his remarks, further said that after staying in public life for decades, he had wondered whether he would do justice as the President who has to go by Constitution.
The Opposition is not averse to a second term for the President, with both Bihar and West Bengal chief ministers openly backing second term for Mukherjee.
"I have exactly two months to go. July 25, a new President will assume office," President Pranab Mukherjee said in the Capital on Thursday. This comes a day before various leaders from the Opposition are expected to meet at a lunch organised by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the presidential election.
The President said he was sending the officials who have worked with him back to their departments.
"One has gone to the commerce ministry, two from the Ministry of External Affairs as ambassadors," Mukherjee told media at the farewell tea organised for Venu Rajamony, press secretary to the President. Rajamony, IFS, has been appointed as India's envoy to The Hague.
Pranab Mukherjee, in his remarks, further said that after staying in public life for decades, he had wondered whether he would do justice as the President who has to go by Constitution.
The Opposition is not averse to a second term for the President, with both Bihar and West Bengal chief ministers openly backing second term for Mukherjee.