TNI Bureau: While the Congress-led UPA is struggling hard to build a consensus among the allies on the Presidential candidate, the Opposition BJP has stepped up efforts to put the ruling alliance in further trouble.
BJP veteran LK Advani has met AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa this afternoon to discuss the names of candidates. Advani slammed the UPA for failing to build a consensus and revealed that the NDA will meet tomorrow to take a final stand.
Jayalalithaa, who is getting closer to BJP, seems to have given green signal to Advani’s initiative. It is believed that the BJP, AIADMK and BJD may back former President APJ Abdul Kalam as the next President of India. Another BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has already extended support to Kalam.
The Congress is trying hard to get maximum support for Pranab Mukherjee. The party is upset with ally Trinamool Congress, but reaching out to Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party and Left parties to get their support. The RJD, National Conference and NCP had already hinted that they would back the UPA Candidate.