The Congress has expressed the hope that Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee will accept the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee for the post of President. Union Coal Minister and Congress leader Sri Prakash Jaiswal said, people give their candidature. Later, whatever decision is taken with consensus is accepted by everyone. In reply to a question, Jaiswal said there was no deal between Congress and SP on the presidential candidate issue.

NCP has asked P A Sangma to withdraw from contesting the Presidential polls. Senior Party leader and Union Minister Praful Patel said in New Delhi that, the party's line is to unconditionally support Pranab Mukherjee for the top constitutional post. Patel also said that Sangma does not enjoy the support of the NCP. He said NCP will react if he pursues with his candidature.

But, BJD has stuck to its stand to back Sangma as Presidential candidate. BJD Parliamentary Party leader Arjun Sethi told reporters that as of now there is no change in their decision on the Presidential poll.

Sources in JD-U, a key ally of the BJP-led coalition, said the party would favour a consensus around Mukherjee. It feels a contest should be avoided as it could be embarrassing as neither Abdul Kalam has so far agreed to contest nor the NDA has the numbers. JD-U chief Sharad Yadav, who met Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders today said after the meeting that NDA will take a collective decision on the matter after its meeting tomorrow.

The BJP core group is meeting this evening in New Delhi to discuss the presidential polls. The party is expected to finalise its stand in the meeting.