Prez poll: Talks between Cong, SP gain momentum

UPA expected to formally endorse the name of Pranab Mukherjee as the alliance candidate

PTI | June 15, 2012



Ahead of UPA's meeting in the evening, talks between Congress and SP gained momentum over the possibility of Mulayam Singh Yadav's support to the ruling dispensation candidate for the Presidential poll.

Sources in Samajwadi party said that Yadav, his cousin and party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav and another senior leader Naresh Aggarwal have held at least five rounds of discussion with Congress leaders.

While Yadav and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had floated the names of prime minister Manmohan Singh, former speaker Somnath Chatterjee, former president A P J Abdul Kalam as their presidential candidate, the SP chief last night refused to declare Kalam as his preferred candidate.

He is understood to have told Banerjee that any final decision on a single name has to be endorsed by other SP leaders.

Meanwhile, Aggarwal and Ram Gopal Yadav met Mulayam Singh Yadav this morning amid indications that the SP chief could leave for Agra on Friday.

The UPA meeting on Friday is expected to formally endorse the name of Pranab Mukherjee as the alliance candidate.

In Rajahmundry, the Congress candidate was leading over the YSR Congress candidate.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter