Mamata meets PM about Bengal finances as govt seeks her support for President candidateMeanwhile, Pranab Mukherjee has denied that he is emerging as the first choice of the Congress and its allies for June's election for the President of India. "It is speculative. I don't want to comment on it," the Finance Minister told reporters on his way to Manila where he will attend the 45th Annual Meeting of Asian Development Bank's Board of Governors.
Mamata Banerjee is meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence at 7, Race Course Road, to discuss the finances of her state, West Bengal. Ms Banerjee wants the government to suspend the thousands of crores that West Bengal owes as interest on loans granted by the centre. This comes at a time when the government needs her support for its candidate for President of India.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who met with Mrs Gandhi last evening has so far not said on record who she will support.
Congress leaders privately insist that Mamata Banerjee has come around and that Sonia Gandhi has obtained her support for whichever candidate the UPA finally chooses.
While the formal agenda of the meeting is a moratorium for debt-ridden West Bengal, all eyes will be on any indications of a quid pro quo over the UPA alliance's Presidential candidate.
Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today.
President election: No names shortlisted , says Sonia; Mamata likely to support UPA candidateAfter meeting with key ally Mamata Banerjee today, Congress president Sonia Gandhi told NDTV, "there is still time" to decide on the UPA's candidate for President of India. When asked if her party has shortlisted any names, she said "no names...be patient." Sources say Mrs Gandhi wants to continue consultations with her own partymen and with allies on who to field. Reports have so far suggested that the Congress has narrowed down its choices to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari. The Presidential election is scheduled for June;Pratibha Patil's five-year term ends in July.
