Manmohan to meet President Patil on Thursday

New Delhi, July 9 : President Pratibha Patil today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to meet her on Thursday.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance met at opposition leader L K Advani's residence on Wednesday, and demanded that the UPA Government should be asked to prove its majority within a week.

The NDA decided to approach President Pratibha Patil in case the trust vote doesn't take place soon. It also demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened at the earliest.

With the Left parties formally withdrawing support to the UPA Government, which is bracing itself for a confidence vote.

Earlier, top leaders of CPM, CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP met President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan and handed over separate letters withdrawing support and a joint communication asking her to "direct the Prime Minister to seek a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha immediately."

Shortly after the Left's move, the Samajwadi Party submitted a fresh letter to the President backing the government.

A war of words erupted with the Left leaders accusing the government and the Congress leadership of "disregarding" the majority voice in Parliament on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

With the support of SP, PDP and some Independents, the government hopes to garner 272 for a simple majority in the Lok Sabha, which has an effective strength of 543.

ANI