Prez elections: Sonia meets Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, June 11: The Congress move for finalising its candidate for the Presidential election gathered momentum with UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hours after her arrival from her foreign visit here today.

She was accompanied by Defence Minister A K Antony and her Political Secretary Ahmad Patel, according to sources.

Ms Gandhi, who was authorised by the Congress Working Committee to select a candidate from the Congress to contest as the UPA-Left candidate, had shortly afterwards deputed External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to work for a consensus on Home Minister Shivraj Patil's name as the Presidential nominee among the UPA allies. However, the party has yet to take a formal decision on finalising Mr Patil's candidature.

While Ms Gandhi was away in Netherlands to deliver a lecture, Mr Mukherjee held consulations with the NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and RJD and LJP leaders.

Ms Gandhi's meeting with the Prime Minister took place after she is believed to have received the report from Mr Mukherjee about the outcome of his meeting with the UPA leaders.

UNI

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