Government's Candidate For President By June 20, Say Sources

The two meetings today between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-member team and the three key opposition parties, the Congress, the CPM and CPI, did not throw up any name. The three parties indicated that the two Union ministers - Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu - wanted the opposition's cooperation. "The government says they have the mandate. The opposition should vote in favour of government nominees," Mr Yechury said after the meeting. In the morning, Mr Singh and Mr Naidu had a 30-minute meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. The two ministers also met party veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi to keep them informed, party sources said. The government is expected to announce its candidate by June 20 after discussion with party chief Amit Shah, sources said.