Mamata Upa Ties

• Mamata Banerjee exits UPA today, Congress ministers to quit her cabinet in tit-for-tat reaction

  At about 4 pm today, when Mamata Banerjee's ministers meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi to hand over resignation letters, the Congress' six ministers in the West Bengal government were hoping to resign in Kolkata. However Ms Banerjee has given time till tomorrow 5 pm to these ministers for the submission of their resignation letters. ...

• I stand by my remarks on Mamata Banerjee: Digvijaya Singh

  Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has said he stands by his remarks on his party's estranged ally Mamata Banerjee. Mr Singh had recently called the Trinamool chief "immature" and "irrational." His comments came in the wake of Ms Banerjee refusing to back Pranab Mukherjee as the UPA's choice for President of India.

• President-in-waiting Pranab Mukherjee in Kolkata; will he meet 'sister' Mamata Banerjee?

  UPA's presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee received a rousing welcome as he arrived in Kolkata last night. This is Mr Mukherjee's first visit to the city after he was chosen by the ruling coalition as its nominee for the top post. The minister is slated to go to his native village Kinnahar later in the day today. But all eyes are on whether he w...

• Is it all over for Mamata Banerjee and the UPA?

  The relationship between the Congress and the Trinamool, which is teetering dangerously on the verge of a break-up, continues to worsen further. Firhad Hakim, a senior minister in the West Bengal government belonging to the Trinamool Congress, today said that the "Congress is free to leave the government if they want."

• Will NDA back Pranab Mukherjee? Final decision likely today

  Will the NDA back Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for the country's top job or will they name another candidate in the race to Raisina Hill? A decision by the BJP-led alliance, which has so far followed a wait-and-watch policy, is expected to be taken after a key meeting of the NDA today. There have been hectic consultations between...

• Will NDA back Pranab Mukherjee? BJP core group meets today, final decision likely tomorrow

  At a meeting on Friday evening at the Prime Minister's house, the UPA finally declared Mr Mukherjee as its candidate for President of India.

• APJ Abdul Kalam will contest, says Mamata Banerjee, but he is undecided, so is NDA

  APJ Abdul Kalam, who was hosted at lunch by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today, has said he will decide at the right time whether to contest Presidential elections for a second stint in the Rashtrapati Bhawan. And though Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee insists that he will contest, a lot of factors now seem to put a question mark on t...

• President Pranab Mukherjee? UPA meets now, is Mulayam Singh Yadav on board?

  President of India: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, according to sources, will run for President. He is expected to file his nomination papers on June 25, if he is ratified as the UPA candidate at a meeting of its allies today, which has begun. He reportedly remains the first choice of his party president and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi. Cong...

• President Pranab? Will quit Finance Ministry on June 24, say sources

  President of India: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, according to sources, will run for President. He is expected to file his nomination papers on June 25, if he is ratified as the UPA candidate at a meeting of its allies today. He reportedly remains the first choice of his party president and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi.

• UPA meet on presidential polls: Congress warns allies against Mamata-Mulayam, say sources

  With Mamata Banerjee announcing this evening, after her meeting with Mulayam Singh Yadav, that former president APJ Abdul Kalam was their first choice for the next President of India, sources say the Congress has warned all its allies that Ms Banerjee and Mr Yadav are trying to topple the government.

• President elections: Mamata Banerjee firm on Kalam, Mulayam Singh Yadav distances himself a little

  Mamata Banerjee met Mulayam Singh Yadav for the third time in 48 hours this evening and said that former president APJ Abdul Kalam is her first choice for the next President of India. "And he will win the election," she said. Ms Banerjee, who partners with the Congress at the centre and in Bengal, also dared the Congress to sack her from the UPA. ...

• Mamata vs Congress worsens, Pranab Mukherjee still not official candidate

  Pranab Mukherjee still not official candidate for President: Cornered over the presidential election by allies who turned on it with full force, the Congress is trying to rally its troops. The core group of the party is meeting this evening to discuss its candidate for President. Congress chief ministers have been asked to come to Delhi to share th...

• Mamata meets Sonia, says Pranab Mukherjee is Congress' first choice for President

  Will it be Pranab Mukherjee after all? Sources say the Congress is still undecided on whether it should send its chief trouble shooter, Finance Minister and Leader in the Lok Sabha to the Rashtraptai Bhawan next month. It is a dilemma that seemed unsolved when a meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and important UPA ally Mamata Banerjee ...

• Pranab for President? Mamata meets Sonia today

  Congress President Sonia Gandhi will meet her party's toughest ally Mamata Banerjee this evening as she seeks to build consensus on the UPA's candidate for President.

• Presidential polls: Mamata to meet Sonia tomorrow; UPA candidate by June 15?

  The big political battle - who will be the next President of India - is amping up. Later this evening, the Election Commission will announce the schedule for the election.