Prez Poll: Sonia consults senior party members

New Delhi, June 12: As the Congress came close to finalising its candidate for the Presidential election, party President Sonia Gandhi today held consultations with her senior colleagues prior to a crucial meeting with the leaders of the Left parties here later this evening in a bid to evolve a consensus on the nominee.

According to sources, External Affairs Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony and Ms Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmad Patel, among others, met Ms Gandhi and held consultations with her.

Though Home Minister Shivraj Patil continues to be the front runner in the race for the President's post, he has not yet been named so officially by the Congress. After her meetings with her senior party colleagues, Ms Gandhi is likely to press for Mr Patil's endorsement during her meeting with the Left leaders, when she will be accompanied by Mr Mukherjee, according to the sources.

However, the Left leaders, who have all along been pleading for Mr Pranab Mukherjee to be fielded as the Presidential candidate, have expressed their reservations about the candidature of Mr Patil.

Later this evening, CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat is also expected to have a one to one meeting with Prime Minister Manomohan Singh at his residence in this connection, the sources said.

With Ms Gandhi having received a positive response from BSP supremo Mayawati, who has extended her full support to the UPA nominee for Presidential election, and the Left parties likely to fall in line eventually, she is expected to announce the name of the Congress candidate later today.

The Election Commission in all probability will issue notification for the July Presidential election in a couple of days, the sources said.

UNI

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