Consultations over the next Presidential candidate of the ruling alliance gained momentum on Monday, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi meeting Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and allies of the ruling alliance at the Centre.

Karunanidhi, accompanied by Union Surface Transport Minister T R Baalu, had a 25-minute meeting with Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence where the leaders are understood to have held talks on the issue of United Progressive Alliance candidate for the forthcoming Presidential polls.

Emerging from the meeting, Karunanidhi, who also heads the DMK, said that he would visit the capital again in the first week of June to discuss the issue.

"I have come to Delhi to take part in the National Development Council meeting and also discuss the Presidential candidate with UPA leadership," he told reporters on his arrival at the airport.

Karunanidhi also met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat where the issue of a successor to President A P J Abdul Kalam came up for discussion.

"These are ongoing consultations," Karat said adding that the Left has already made known its criteria for a Presidential candidate.

Pawar described his meeting with the DMK chief as a 'courtesy call' and parried questions on the Presidential candidate. "This issue cannot be discussed with the media," he said.

BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, whose party holds the key to the next Presidential candidate, has just held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gandhi and would be consulting her party MPs and MLAs in the next few days. 

Karat had said his party would start consultations with UPA alliance partners on the issue of Presidential nominee.

So far, the consultations were being carried out by the prime minister and the Congress president who had held
extensive talks with the Left given the fact that UPA-Left together needed BSP's support to ensure a smooth sailing of
the candidate of the ruling alliance.

The Left has said the Presidential nominee must have a political background and firm secular credentials.

The future President must be able to exercise judgement to maintain balance between Parliament, Executive and Judiciary, it said.

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has called for a consensus but there is no indication so far of any UPA
response to it.

Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has emerged as the hot favourite of the NDA, which has not announced any name so far.

Shekhawat is also banking on his 'friends' across the political spectrum with his supporters claiming that they can tilt the election in their favour with a little support from south of the Vindhyas.

Pawar, a known friend of Shekhawat, has however, made it clear that he would be with the UPA.

"He is a good friend of mine but that does not mean that we support him for the post of President. As everybody knows I have friends across the political spectrum, but we will only support what is decided," Pawar had said in Mumbai on
Saturday.

The elections for the top post are expected to be announced anytime now, with incumbent A P J Abdul Kalam due to
retire on July 24.