(rptg, correcting date in para two)

New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) Amidst hectic parleys among UPA partners to decide the candidate for Presidental elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal President and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Mr Prasad has reportedly discussed the choice of candidate for the Presidential elections with Dr Singh. However, a clear picture for the July 19 rpt 19 elections would be clear only by this evening.

The Congress is trying to develop a consensus among its coalition partners and with the allies before declaring the nominee for the President's post.

Among the front runners in the race for Presidential position are Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and senior Congress leader Karan Singh.

Though Mr Patil, is a favourite of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the left parties have shown reluctance to accept him as the next incumbent of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Left parties had earlier favoured External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, but the Congress had clarified that it could not spare the political heavy weight minister for the post of President.

The Congress Working Committee has already authorised Ms Gandhi to take a final decision on the party's candidate for the post of President. Ms Gandhi now faces the challenge of making all the allies as well as the supporting left parties to support the candidate selected.

BSP leader Mayawati, RJD President and LJP have already extended their unconditional support to any UPA candidate. DMK President M Karunanidhi is also trying to mediate between the Left parties and the Congress so that they could agree on any name. Meanwhile, Mr Shinde's name is gaining strength.

Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who is likely to contest the election as an independent candidate with NDA supporting him, is going to throw a challenge to the UPA candidate.

UNI