UPA candidate announced: Pranab likely to be next President

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on Friday declared Pranab Mukherjee as its choice for the President of India's post.

Pranab, who will quit as the finance minister on June 24, is currently being endorsed by regional parties such as the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Sources claim that more parties will come forward to support Pranab's candidature for the top Constitutional post.

Announcing Pranab's name, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said the finance minister has a long and distinguished record of public service spanning over five decades.

"There is broad support for his candidature. The UPA appeals to all the political parties and all MPs and MLAs to support the candidature of Mukherjee for the office of President," she said.

The decision to back Pranab, to succeed Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan, was taken after a crucial meeting of the top leaders of UPA allies at the official residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister telephoned leaders of all major political parties and sought their support for Pranab's candidature for president.

"I am deeply honoured by the nomination as candidate for the Presidential poll. I accept it with all humility," said Pranab.

While thanking the Prime Minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi for nominating him as the UPA candidate, Pranab said he was fortunate to "receive love, affection and confidence of party colleagues and leaders of all political parties" in his long political career spanning over five decades.

"I am deeply indebted to them. I will now again seek their indulgence and support for the next few weeks," media quoted the veteran Congress leader, as saying.

Earlier, the speculations on who will emerge as the Congress candidate for presidential elections gave way to several names, including that of Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, former president APJ Abdul Kalam and former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma.