Prez poll: DMK leaders meet PM

New Delhi: DMK leaders TR Baalu and MK Stalin today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and are believed to have discussed the issue of selection of a candidate for the presidential election. The meeting lasted for around 5 to 7 minutes and was described by the DMK leaders as a courtesy call. Talking to reporters after his meeting with the prime minister, Stalin said, “Whatever Karunanidhi had conveyed to Defence Minister AK Antony is the party’s stand on the selection of UPA’s Presidential candidate”. [caption id=“attachment_335261” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“AP”]  [/caption] On 5 May, Karunanidhi said he had no objection if Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was chosen as UPA’s Presidential candidate. Baalu and Stalin would also be meeting Congress President Sonia Gandhi later in the day apparently to discuss the issue of selecting a presidential candidate. Last month, Gandhi had despatched senior party leader Antony to Chennai to take DMK supremo M Karunanidhi on board on the issue. Gandhi had held talks with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on the issue soon after the meeting between Antony and Karunanidhi. Gandhi had on Tuesday also met RLD chief Ajit Singh. The RLD chief had yesterday said that Pranab Mukherjee was “qualified” for the highest constitutional post but his views were “positive” on others as well. A fresh round of consultations on the issue of selection of a Presidential nominee has begun in the UPA, after the Congress Working Committee in a meeting passed a resolution authorising Gandhi to decide candidates for the presidential and vice-presidential elections. PTI