New Delhi, May 3
As the discussions on the upcoming Presidential election gathered momentum today, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held centre stage with back-to-back meetings with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav. After that, Mamata declared that the two regional parties will take a joint decision on the next incumbent of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Although Mamata and Mulayam are not expected to break ranks with the UPA on the selection of the next Presidential candidate, the West Bengal Chief Minister’s announcement this evening has made it tougher for the Congress to forge a consensus on Pratibha Patil’s successor.

Finding themselves in the driver’s seat, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are clearly working in tandem to drive a hard bargain with the Congress-led UPA.

The TMC is a key UPA ally while the SP extends outside support to the UPA. Between them, they have at least 10 per cent share in the electoral college and can tilt the balance in this Presidential race.

Mamata Banerjee’s decision now hinges on her meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow where she is expected to press her demand for a three-year moratorium on the payment of interest on the loans owed by the West Bengal Government.

A favourable response from the Centre will make it easier for the Congress to get Mamata’s consent for its Presidential candidate.

It is also to be seen if the TMC-SP combine forges an understanding with other regional leaders, including AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa and BJD’s Naveen Patnaik as they have worked together in the recent months on federal issues. All the chief ministers will be in Delhi to attend the May 5 conference on the NCTC.

Reports emanating from the UPA camp suggest the Congress has narrowed down its Presidential choices to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari with Pranab having an edge.

Sonia Gandhi, however, said the party has not shortlisted any names. "No names have been decided yet. There is still time to decide," she told mediapersons after her meeting with Mamata. Earlier, Sonia Gandhi held lengthy discussions with the PM and Pranab Mukherjee where the UPA leadership is believed to have deliberated on the bail-out package for the West Bengal. The Congress had earlier sent Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath to convince Mamata to support its candidate.

Mamata refused to give details about her discussions with the Congress president but talking to mediapersons earlier, she said she would prefer that consensus is forged on the next Presidential candidate.

"Sometimes, a contest becomes inevitable because of political compulsions but it is good to have a consensus," she remarked. Stating repeatedly that "all options are open" on the Presidential race, she was non-committal on her support for Pranab Mukherjee, with whom she shares a love-hate relationship.

"The Congress has to take a view on its candidate first. He's after all a Congress leader. I cannot interfere in the affairs of another party," she said.

Her response was apparently prompted by Congress spokesperson Renuka Chaudhary's suggestion that as the party and government's chief troubleshooter, Mukherjee may not be spared for the President's post. The party later clarified that no names have emerged so far and Mukherjee has not been ruled out of the race.