Prez Poll Sonia meets Mamata -Antony meets Karuna

Congress dismal show in recent state elections ensure regional parties hold the key to who will be India's 13th president.President Pratibha Patil steps down this July and with neither the UPA ruling conglomerate  nor the NDA the opposition consoritum having the numbers to push through their candidate, all options are open right now.The list of probables to the coveted post  are Sam Pitroda, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Congressman Karan Singh, former speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Nationalist Congress party leader P.A. Sangma. To continue the list  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav and Janata Dal-United's Sharad Yadav.

Official media reports Congress leader and Defence Minister A K Antony on Sunday met DMK chief M Karunanidhi as part of consultation process among UPA allies on the Presidential election to arrive at a consensus leader to succeed incumbent Pratibha Patil, who is retiring on 25th July.

After more than an hour-long meeting, Antony told reporters that he would convey the DMK leader's views on the issue to Congress President Sonia Gandhi."It was a very, very fruitful meeting. I will report to the Congress President whatever he said", he told reporters, refusing to disclose details about his discussion. 

Observing that Gandhi had asked him to meet the DMK chief to discuss about the "present political situation", he said "What we discussed, I will convey to the Congress President".

He said Karunanidhi is one of the senior most leaders in the country and "we always value his advice".Antony's meeting with Karunanidhi comes close on the heels of Agriculture Minister and NCP leader Sharad Pawar's consultation with the Congress President a few days ago.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi will meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 3.The Trinamool Congress chief will the be the third UPA ally Congress,discussing with on the issue after NCP chief Sharad Pawar and DMK supremo M Karunanidhi.

Left parties to meet on May 4 to decide on the strategy for the coming Presidential elections, CPI National Secretary D Raja said today.
Lalu president of RJD, who support to UPA from outside, exclusively pitched for Vice President Hamid Ansari as the next President of the country saying “he is the natural claimant to the highest post”. “He (Ansari) is the natural claimant to the highest post...he should be promoted from Vice President to President,” RJD President Lalu Prasad told PTI. Prasad further added  though his party, with feeble number Parliamentarians, posses no crucial role in the election of President, but like to see Ansari in the top post.

RJD with strength of  four MPs in Lok Sabha, a members  in Rajya Sabha Jabir Husain has 22 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar assembly, the main opposition part.RJD with seven legislators in Jharkhand assembly. Lalu Prasad briefing said,No consultation either with Congress or any other party on the name of Ansari for Presidential poll,but if Congress and UPA allies support  candidature of Hamid Ansari would be his obvious choice.