The current mood of the ruling UPA constituents is not to reveal their cards on the presidential election until the Congress decides its nominee for the top post. “Why should we give our opinion on their names? Let the Congress comes out with its candidate first,” said a UPA leader who did not wish to be quoted.

Samajwadi Party (SP), Trinamul Congress, BSP and AIADMK have reportedly held first-round informal talks with non-Congress leaders even as Congress has begun a 'consensus building' exercise on the Pres

The BJP-led NDA and the so-called federal front will have little role to play in the Presidential election without Mr Mulaym Singh Yadav, Ms Mamata Banerjee and Ms Mayawati.

The consensus building exercise on the coming Presidential poll has begun with the Congress high command sending defence minister A.K. Antony to Chennai for discussions with DMK supremo M.

The consensus strategy for the presidential election is unlikely to work with the regional players and the main Opposition BJP not in the mood to oblige the Congress.

In an interesting development, Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi met Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, fuelling speculation that the visit was linked to the presidential polls.

At least five former vice-presidents could not become the President for different reasons contrary to the perception of an elevation of a sitting vice-president to the top post.

The Congress on Thursday made it clear that a discussion on the presidential nominees within the party has not yet begun.

Regional satraps have disproved anti-incumbency factor in at least half-a-dozen states so far. These states include Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Orissa and Delhi.

The Congress is undecided whether or not to play the role of “effective or constructive Opposition” in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly till the presidential and vice-presidential elections.