'Cong trying to build consensus on Prez poll'

Congress is making efforts to arrive at a consensus on the UPA candidate for the upcoming Presidential election, Union minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said in Kanpur today.

Congress is making efforts to arrive at a consensus on the UPA candidate for the upcoming Presidential election, Union minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said in Kanpur on Saturday.

HT Image

"No name has yet been finalised. The Congress party is following a policy of arriving at the decision through widest possible consensus," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

"UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is in consultation with parties and leaders and efforts are on to build a consensus," the Coal minister said.

Asked whether Pranab Mukherjee would be the UPA's choice, he said "each day media is raising a new name. The UPA has not taken any decision on its nominee."

On West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly pressurising the Centre for a special economic package for the state, Jaiswal said he had no information on the matter.

To a question, he said "we are optimistic on forming a consensus on the issue of National Counter Terrorism Centre."