Pranab,Sangma to file their nominations

Pranab Mukherjee and P A Sangma will file their nominations on Thursday setting off the Presidential race between UPA and the BJP-backed opposition candidate in which the ruling alliance is set for a runaway victory. As Pranab Mukherjee resigned to contest the Presidential poll, PM Manmohan Singh took charge of the Finance Ministry portfolio. Unfazed by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's revolt, UPA will utilise the occasion of filing of nomination of Mukherjee to project a united picture and its penetration into NDA. Mukherjee will file papers at 1100 hrs in the presence of the top brass of UPA including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and alliance Chairperson and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Barring Trinamool Congress, leaders of all UPA constituents are expected to be present on the occasion including Sharad Pawar (NCP), T R Baalu (DMK), Farooq Abdullah (NC) and E Ahmed (IUML), in a move to project a united face of the ruling alliance. NDA allies JD(U) and Shiv Sena have decided to support Mukherjee. Mukherjee is expected to file four sets of nomination papers and NDA Convenor and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav is the first signatory to one such set which also has the signature of Defence Minister A K Antony. 77-year-old Mukherjee is poised to become the next President amidst indications of an overwhelmingly favourable arithmetic and the election managers of UPA are working overtime to secure record votes for him. The timing of filing of nomination by 64-year-old has not yet been given out by his office. He is likely to be accompanied by senior BJP leaders, Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy and senior MPs from AIADMK, BJD and SAD, among others. Mukherjee submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who told him that his presence amidst us would be deeply missed as our government owes a deep debt of gratitude to you for your contribution. Meanwhile, the resignation of Pranab Mukherjee was accepted by President Pratibha Patil.