PM reaches out to parties, seeks support for Pranab

With UPA nominating Pranab Mukherjee as its Presidential candidate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reached out to various political parties including the main opposition BJP to seek support.

With UPA nominating Pranab Mukherjee as its Presidential candidate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reached out to various political parties including the main opposition BJP to seek support.

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Soon after his name was announced by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Singh called Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley respectively, sources said.

He also called up SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati, CPI leader A B Bardhan and former Prime Minister and JD (S) leader H D Devegowda.

SP and BSP have expressed their support for 77-year-old Mukherjee in the Presidential election.

CPI(M) also congratulated Mukherjee for being chosen as UPA's candidate for the top job but said it will decide on the issue of supporting him after consulting other Left parties.