The nomination of UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee has been found valid and accepted by the Returning Officer for the Presidential polls.

Giving details, the Secretary General of Rajya Sabha Mr. V.K. Agnihotri who is also the Returning officer, said that the allegations of holding office of profit against the UPA candidate has been rejected after a scrutiny.

The former Finance Minister Mr. Mukherjee was asked to explain his position by the Returning Officer after the NDA supported candidate P.A. Sangma complained that Mr. Mukherjee was holding an office of profit while filing nomination for the Presidential election.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal, who is also the authorised representative of Mr. Pranab Mukherjee said that Mr. Mukherjee had resigned from the post of Chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute on 20th of June, that is eight days earlier than filing his nomination.

AIR correspondent reports that with this, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee and Opposition supported candidate Mr. P.A. Sangma, whose nomination papers were found valid after scrutiny for the Presidential Election 2012 are in direct fight.

The Returning Officer informed 106 Nominations were received and out of these 33 nomination papers pertaining to 28 candidates were rejected at the time of presentation itself as they were not accompanied by a certified copy of the electoral roll.

The remaining 73 nomination papers pertaining to 59 candidates were taken up for scrutiny on Monday.

Out of these nominations 65 nomination papers were rejected during the course of the scrutiny for want of requisite number of proposers and seconders and not accompanied by the requisite deposit of fifteen thousand rupees.

Mr. Agnihotri said on Tuesday is last date for withdrawal of candidature by 3.00 PM . The Poll , if required , will be held on 19th of this month and counting will take on 22nd.