Sonia held talks with Yechury on presidential polls

New Delhi, May 12 (UNI) Congress chief and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today held discussions with CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury about the left parties' preferences on presidential polls.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had earlier held informal talks on the subject with the Left leaders.

Ms Gandhi had also met CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan and his Forward Bloc counterpart Debabrat Biswas.

Though no official comment is available, sources said during the meeting, at her official residence, Defence Minister A K Antony's name figured in the list of preferential candidates.

Meanwhile, the left leaders have decided to hold a joint meeting here on May 16 to discuss the issue of President's election due in July.

Besides, Mr Antony the names of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Dr Karan Singh, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat are also doing the rounds.

UNI