Parties sticking to their stands on Prez nominee: Karunanidhi

New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) The UPA and the Left parties were engaged in hectic parleys today on their nominee for Presidentship even as a consensus appeared elusive with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi stating that no party would relax its stand.

Political activities began right in the morning for fielding the UPA-Left nominee in the July 19 Presidential election as Mr Prakash Karat and Mr A B Bardhan, General Secretaries of the CPI(M) and the CPI respectively, called on Mr Karunanidhi at the new Tamil Nadu House here and discussed the issue.

Both Mr Karunanidhi and the Left leaders later had separate meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Congress President Sonia Gandhi was present at both the meetings held at the Prime Minister's official residence at 7 Race Course Road.

Dr Singh cancelled his weekly Cabinet meeting because of his political engagements in connection with the Presidential poll.

After meeting Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi, Mr Karunanidhi said there was progress in the talks and the UPA and the Left were hopeful of reaching a consensus by tomorrow.

According to political circles, Dr Karan Singh is back in contention as his name figured seriously at these meetings.

The CPI(M) has convened a meeting of its politburo at 1400 hrs and the CPI of its Central Secretariat at 1500 hrs.

''All the candidates'' whose names were making the rounds were discussed at the 40-minute meeting held with Mr Karunanidhi, Mr Karat told reporters.

Mr Karunanidhi is believed to have apprised the Left leaders of his discussions with Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi immediately on his arrival here last evening.

''We have met Mr Karunanidhi and exchanged opinions and on that basis we have decided to meet again later in the evening,'' Mr Karat, who was also accompanied by CPI National Secretary D Raja, said.

Asked whether any consensus had been reached on the UPA-Left candidate, Mr Bardhan said the very fact that they would be meeting Mr Karunanidhi again meant no decision had been taken.

CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri also accompanied the three left leaders when they met the Prime Minister and Ms Gandhi.

On his arrival at the airport, Mr Karunanidhi had said the UPA and the Left would announce their ''strong candidate'' within two days.

He had also acknowledged that he was here to mediate between the Congress and the Left on the issue of the Presidential nominee, the announcement of which was getting delayed in the absence of a consensus.

Among the other names that were under consideration were of Power Minister Sulshil Kumar Shinde, former Union Minister and veteran Congress leader Karan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

UNI