When the PM and the Congress president met Left leaders in the afternoon, the discussion narrowed down to two names: Shivraj Patil and Karan Singh.

The Left leadership tried to float the name of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee once again but the Congress brushed it aside saying he could not be spared from the government. The Left then re-iterated its opposition to the names proposed by the Congress leadership. It was at this stage that the prospect of a woman as President was floated to clear this “logjam,” as CPM’s Yechury put it.

Sonia announced Pratibha Patil’s name in the presence of the Prime Minister, Karunanidhi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Left leaders, including Prakash Karat, Abani Roy and A B Bardhan, among others. She also got UP Chief Minister Mayawati’s consent. It’s a “matter of pride and a historic moment in the 60th year of our Republic,” said Sonia, adding that the UPA would set up a coordination committee to ensure her victory.

Both the PM and Sonia later called up former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee asking for the NDA’s support to make Patil a consensus choice. According to a statement issued by the BJP late tonight, Sonia Gandhi told Vajpayee that it was for the first time that she had sought support from him but the former Prime Minister turned down the request saying “you announced the candidate without taking our opinion.”

“We, too, have our candidate and we are, therefore, unable to support you,” the statement quoted Vajpayee as having told Sonia.

... contd.