Pranab files his nomination paper, Sangma may too follow

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pranab Mukherjee Thursday filed his nomination for presidential poll scheduled on July 19 amid presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal President Lalu Prasad and other leaders.

Another contestant Purno Agitok Sangma (P A Sangma), who is backed by opposition National Democratic Alliance is also likely to submit his nomination paper as today is scheduled date of it.

For filling his nomination paper, Pranab Mukherjee (77), the key troubleshooter of congress party has to resign from the post of Finance Ministry and Union Cabinet. His resignation has ended up his 43-year-long political career.

Pranab today reached at time in the registrar office and filled four sets of nomination papers.

Besides coalition parties of UPA except Trinamool Congress Party (TMC), Shiv Sena and Janta Dal (United) from opposition alliance are also supporting to Pranab while TMC?s stand is still secret.

Earlier, getting the backing of Biju Janta Dal (BJD), and AIADMK, Sangma has got the support of BJP and other alliance of NDA except Shiv Sena and JD (U).

Sangma, 64, quit the NCP earlier this month on grounds that his self-respect was being compromised.

The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24.

--With Agencies Inputs--