It's NDA's turn to support UPA nominee to Prez post: PM

On Board PM's Special Aircraft, June 9 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today accepted NDA's suggestion for electing the new President through political consensus, but reminded the opposition that it was their turn now to support the UPA-Left nominee.

When Dr A P J Abdul Kalam was nominated by the ruling coalition in 2002, the NDA had come to the Congress seeking its support.

Pointing out that the Congress had responded in favour of the NDA then, Dr Singh said, ''I hope this time the NDA endorses''the nomination of the Left-UPA candidate.

Replying to a question on ending the agony of aspirants to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dr Singh said this would be done before the election process got under way.

Discussions were still on to choose the Left-UPA candidate and the name would be announced immediately after a decision was taken.

The Prime Minister, who was talking to reporters while returning from Germany, refused to talk about any names when asked to specify whether the choice was between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

UNI