New Delhi:
Soon after being elected as the 13th President of India, Pranab Mukherjee phoned Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav and thanked him for his party's support to him in the election.
Mr Yadav, who is the NDA convener, also congratulated Mr Mukherjee and his family over the victory.
The JD(U), a key ally of the NDA, had supported Mr Mukherjee's candidature going against the BJP's decision to back PA Sangma, who was propped up by AIADMK and BJD to contest.
The JD(U) had made it clear that its support to Mr Mukherjee in the Presidential contest should not be taken as an indication of the party moving closer to Congress as it has always fought the latter's policies.
Even as it backed the UPA candidate in the Presidential race, JD(U) decided to support BJP in the election for the Vice President, in which UPA nominee Hamid Ansari is locked in a direct contest with BJP's Jaswant Singh.
BJP had earlier asked Mr Yadav to contest as the NDA vice presidential nominee, which he declined.