Pranab Mukherjee files nomination

Those who were present for the nomination filing included Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi.

UPA's Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the poll in the presence of eminent members and leaders of the coalition.

In sign of the changing times, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party were also present for the event.

The Trinamool Congress, however, was conspicuous by its absence. Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee's reservations about Pranab Mukherjee are well-known. The West Bengal Chief Minister had proposed the name of former president and scientist APJ Abdul Kalam. However, ignoring her demands, the UPA went ahead and nominated Pranab as its candidate.

The other Presidential candidate PA Sangma, backed by the main Opposition BJP is expected to file his nomination by 2 pm on Thursday. While key NDA allies, the Shiv Sena and the Janata Dal (United) have refused to back him, saying their support lies with Pranab, others like the Biju Janata Dal and the AIADMK are firm in their support for the former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader.