Talks on, NDA yet to take final view on Prez poll: JD(U) chief

 Amid BJP's efforts to persuade some of NDA constituents to contest the Presidential poll instead of supporting UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav today said the coalition is yet to take a final view on the issue.

"The talks are on. Since Presidential poll is an important issue, seeking opinion takes time...No decision has so far been taken. It takes time to reach a conclusion," JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav told reporters here.

Asked when will NDA hold its meeting to decide on Presidential election, Yadav said whenever the coalition's Working Chairman L K Advani calls a meeting, he would attend it.

Yadav said he had met Advani yesterday on the issue as also NCP leader P A Sangma who has decided to contest the poll despite his party asking him to withdraw from the race.

On talks among NDA partners having so far failed to evolve a consensus, Yadav said the recent Bharat bandh organised by NDA was the result of dialogue among the allies.
BJP sources said the NDA meeting, which was earlier planned for today, has been deferred as there is no fresh development since A P J Abdul Kalam withdrew from the race.

BJP is trying to persuade JD(U) for a contest instead of having a consensus on Mukherjee. Another NDA ally Shiv Sena has already announced it support for Mukherjee.