UPA to announce Prez candidate soon: Pranab

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, a prominent contender for the President's post, today said UPA, led by Congress, will announce the name of its candidate shortly for the top job.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, a prominent contender for the President's post, on Thursday said UPA, led by Congress, will announce the name of its candidate shortly for the top job.

"Congress and UPA will have to set up a Presidential candidate. Who will be the Presidential candidate? That will be decided shortly," he told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

Earlier in the day, the finance minister had driven to the 10, Janpath residence of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and was with her for about 30 minutes. Congress leaders AK Antony and P Chidambaram had also met Gandhi.

Mukherjee's name was suggested by Congress on Wednesday but UPA allies Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress had rejected it and, instead, suggested three names -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former president A P J Abdul Kalam or former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee -- for the post.