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With Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee believed by many to be the front-runner among those vying to be the next President of India, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shahid Siddiqui on Tuesday said that his political outfit would take a decision on the presidential candidate only after the ruling Congress Party comes out openly with a name for the coveted post. "It is for the Congress to decide who is going to be the presidential candidate. So far as the Samajwadi Party is concerned, we will take our decision only after the Congress comes out very openly with the candidate it wants," said Siddiqui. "So, it has to propose the name, then only we can second it or decide in whatever way we want to. But by and large, the Samajwadi Party stands with the UPA on this question and Mulayam Singh ji (Samajwadi Party chief) has been extremely positive," he added. When asked to comment on the Samajwadi Party's view on Pranab Mukherjee as a presidential candidate, Siddiqui said: "We don't have any view on anybody. What we are saying is let the Congress come out with a name and then we will react." 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 the presidential candidate. Moreover, Mukherjee cancelling a recent visit to Afghanistan has further fuelled speculations 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.

Samajwadi Party asks Congress to reveal cards on presidential candidate