BSP announces support for UPA presidential candidate

New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) The UPA secured the crucial BSP support for its Presidential candidate with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today disclosing that she had reached a consensus with Congress President Sonia Gandhi on their nominee for the coveted post.

The BSP supremo said she had left the announcement of the name to made by ms Gandhi.

Ms Mayawati also expressed a firm 'no' to support for any NDA candidate, saying ''my party had always taken a stand against communal forces.'' The much-awaited BSP stand regarding the presidential candidate came at the end of the three-day visit of Ms Mayawati to the capital, the second after her assumption of state chief ministership for the fourth time.

The BSP with 200 MLAs in the state Assembly would play a crucial role in the victory and defeat of any candidate in the next month's elections.

Ms Mayawati said she discussed the probable nominees for the presidential polls with Ms Sonia Gandhi over dinner last night and arrived at a consensus.

''You will get the name from Ms Gandhi soon,'' Ms Mayawati said when mediapersons pressed her to disclose the name.

Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said she first sought the opinion of her party workers both at the national and state level on the issue and they authorised her to take a decision.

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