Mamata joins Facebook to garner support for Kalam

KOLKATA, INDIA: In a bid to garner support for A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's candidature for the presidency, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has joined social networking site Facebook on Saturday.

Terming her support for Abdul Kalam for the top post as the "voice of millions of Indians", Banerjee appealed users to come out in support of the former president.

Banerjee's official page already has 17,212 likes and her two posts have already received more than 6,000 comments and are still counting.

"I can't understand one thing we are being asked to vote for Kalam on Facebook when according to the Constitution, our votes don't get counted for presidential polls. It is nothing but making a circus out of politics," posted Sayantan Chakraborty on Banerjee's page.

Most of the comments praised Banerjee for opposing Congress' decision of naming Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for the post of president.

"My full support to A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who is a most successful President of India. Mamata didi, my full support to you in this fight," posted Kaushik Saha.

"Mr. Kalam is a non-political man...so we want him........didi we are with u," said Rahul Ray.

However, a section of Facebook users also questioned Banerjee's opposition to Pranab Mukherjee's candidature.

"Mamata di, Pranab da will be the first Bengali President - I think all Bengalis irrespective of political parties should support him. Can you state in Facebook, why are you against him?" posted Sanjoy sen.

"Once I had great respect for you but your brand of blackmailing the central government and maligning the chair of PRESIDENT of INDIA is completely unwanted. Your way of "my way or highway" won't take you too far. Your arrogance will not take you anywhere. Didi, if you continue like this, then we, the people of Bengal, who have gifted you with the chair of CM for your dedication and hard work in no time can take away that from you....So kindly be reasonable and sensible," posted Kinghuk Banerjee.

"Look who is talking one who calls student Maoist and prevents FDI. But I support Kalam," posted Puneet Sharma.

Also, an online poll conducted by a popular site projected that most people want A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as their next President. The question asked in the poll was 'Who should be the next President of India?' and the choices given were A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Pranab Mukherjee and Manmohan Singh. Kalam got 81 per cent of the votes, Mukherjee 15 per cent and Singh got 4 per cent.

So, who according to you should be the next President of India? A.P.J. Abdul Kalam or Pranab Mukherjee? Do let us know your views.

(With inputs from IANS)