What the Congress has done this morning is to begin meeting existing allies -- the DMK and old allies -- the Left. Pranab Mukherjee today called up Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Biman Basu -- with whom he shares warm relations -- for their support.

Here's what RJD chief Lalu Prasad said today: "Soniaji will have a final say over the selection of the Presidential candidate irrespective of the names being floated by various quarters, including Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Trinamool Congress head Mamata Banerjee."

"RJD and other UPA partners will support whosoever the Congress president decides to name as its candidate for the President's post", he said and advised Gandhi to finalise the nominee and consult with the alliance partners and opposition parties to evolve a consensus.