Sonia to meet Mamata on Prez poll nominee on May 3

New Delhi, May 1: Seeking to intensify consultations with UPA allies to evolve a consensus on Presidential election nominee, Congress President Sonia Gandhi will meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 3.

The Trinamool Congress chief will the be the third UPA ally Congress will be discussing with on the issue after NCP chief Sharad Pawar and DMK supremo M Karunanidhi.

Sources said Banerjee will be discussing the issue with Gandhi. Pawar had met Gandhi at her residence last week while senior Congress leader A K Antony had a meeting with Karunanidhi in Chennai yesterday on the Presidential candidate.

Pawar was understood to have urged the Congress chief on the need for a consensus on the choice.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari today said "that in matters related to election or appointment of constitutional heads, Congress has followed a policy that "whatever happens should have the widest possible consensus. Whatever happens should have the largest possible consent." Tewari, however, disfavoured speculation over names.

PTI