Mayawati may support UPA-Left on Presidential poll

The efforts to have a combined candidate of the UPA-Left-BSP for the Presidential poll gained momentum today with UP Chief Minister Mayawati holding talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the ticklish matter.

Mayawati's luncheon meeting with Singh came close on the heels of the BSP National Executive unanimously authorising her to take a decision in the matter at a time when the party holds the key in the selection of a successor to President A P J Abdul Kalam.

"My meeting with the Prime Minister will end the situation of confrontation between the Centre and the UP," Mayawati said appreciating Singh's assurance of providing all help for the development of the state.

She said her government would adopt a "cooperative" approach with the Centre and would not allow politics to come in the development of the state.

The luncheon meeting was joined by Gandhi was indication enough that BSP was on board with the UPA-Left on the Presidential election.

The BSP supremo, on her first visit to the capital after assuming power for the fourth time, had a marathon discussion with Gandhi at her residence yesterday.

Mayawati has given enough hints that she had no intention to do business with opposition NDA in the matter and made it a point to emphasise that her party supported UPA at the Centre to keep 'communal forces' at bay.

After the meeting, Mayawati refused to say anything on the Presidential issue saying she would be able to say something only after consultations with her party MPs and MLAs in the state. She said whatever decision the party has to take, it would do so in a democratic way.