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Asserting that the president's post is the apex constitutional post, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said that it will fully support the candidate selected by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). "The president's post is the apex constitutional post. The decision on this will be taken with dignity, and whatever decision the UPA will take, we will support it," said NCP spokesperson D.P. Tripathi. When asked whether Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was the apt candidate for the president's post, Tripathi said: "There is no need to put up this question. The UPA will take a decision and then, at that point of time, we will tell you." Mukherjee is believed by many to be the front-runner among those vying to be the next President of India According to reports, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi here tomorrow and is expected to discuss the UPA's choice for presidential candidate. Moreover, Mukherjee cancelling a recent visit to Afghanistan has further fuelled speculation that the UPA would come up with a name for the presidential candidate soon. The ruling Congress Party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier on Monday made it absolutely clear that they would come up with a suitable name following due consultations, and at an appropriate time. A fresh round of consultations on the issue of selection of a presidential nominee has begun in the UPA, after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) authorised Sonia Gandhi to decide on the candidates for the coming presidential and vice presidential elections. According to reports, the resolution, authorising her, was moved by Pranab Mukherjee. The dilemma over the nomination of president continues with political parties remaining divided over a suitable candidate's name. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term ends on July 25 this year.

NCP in tune with UPA over presidential candidate