After securing the in-principle support of the NCP and the BSP over the name of Home Minister Shivraj Patil as UPA’s candidate for the Presidential elections, the Congress is now working to get a stamp of approval from the Left and the DMK with an open mind on the candidature for the Vice-President’s election.After a late-night meeting at her residence with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, UP Chief Minister Mayawati said she would issue a statement tomorrow spelling out the BSP’s stand.When asked about her meeting with Sonia, she said: “She put forth her points of view and I put mine. There was samanjasya (congruity) between our points of view.” Asked if there were any differences, “If there were any differences, would out meeting be so cordial and last so long?” With the BSP’s support now just a formal declaration away, the only major roadblock for the Congress in securing a consensus on Patil’s name remained the Left’s reservations. Left leaders had declared their support for External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature.Mukherjee, the principal Congress interlocutor negotiating with UPA allies and constituents, today reached out to CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu in a bid to get the Left’s support for Patil. Mukherjee was learnt to have a telephonic conversation with Basu on this issue. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat is scheduled to return from Cyprus late tonight. Also arriving tomorrow is DMK leader M Karunanidhi. With the Election Commission set to announce the notification for the Presidential Election, the Congress is faced with another issue: placating a disappointed Mukherjee. Although known as Mr Indispensable in the UPA government, Mukherjee has made his disappointment known to close friends on the issue. But the final name of the UPA candidate for the Presidential polls is expected to be announced after Karat talks to his fellow Left Front partners and Karunanidhi gives his stamp of approval.Earlier, Sonia, who returned from the Netherlands this morning, called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed efforts to evolve a consensus on Patil’s name. She was accompanied by her political secretary Ahmed Patel and Defence Minister AK Antony; Mukherjee was conspicuous by his absence. She later visited Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s residence to greet him on his 60th birthday before joining Mayawati for dinner. The PM and Patil also called on Yadav.
