Sonia Gandhi speaks to Mulayam, Lalu on presidential poll

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ As part of her party`s efforts to evolve consensus among opposition parties on a common candidate for upcoming Presidential election, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday spoke to Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

Gandhi, who has taken the initiative to try and evolve consensus on a common candidate, is likely to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also reached out to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in connection with the presidential polls. National Conference`s Working President Omar Abdullah also met Sonia Gandhi at her residence on Wednesday, said party sources.

“In our opinion, national interest should be the foremost criteria with a person adequately suited to defend our constitutionalism and our democratic traditions of dissent and disagreement as the candidate who would be best suited to be the President and Vice President,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.