Pranab, Sangma to file nomination today

United Progressive Alliance’s presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee and his competitor in the race to Raisina Hills, P A Sangma, will file their nominations for the July 19 polls on Thursday.

“Mukherjee will file his nomination papers at 11 am on Thursday,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters.

Mukherjee is expected to file four sets of nomination papers signed by the UPA top brass, in presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Leaders of all coalition partners in the UPA, but Trinamool Congress, which is yet to clear its stand on the presidential polls, are expected to be present on the occasion.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, T R Baalu of DMK, Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference, E Ahmed of IUML, Mulayam Singh of SP and BSP chief Mayawati will likely be present during filing of the nomination.