Presidential Election 2017: Sonia Gandhi speaks to Lalu Prasad Yadav

In an attempt to unify the opposition for the presidential election, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on 18 May  spoke to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

According to sources, the duo talked over the phone regarding the presidential election.

Lalu also spoke to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and requested her to attend August 27 Patna rally.

Earlier on Tuesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Gandhi to discuss the upcoming presidential elections and said a consensus candidate will prove to be beneficial for the nation.

"Today was an important meeting. We have discussed important issues regarding politics and presidential election both. In political matters there is some political vendetta going on. We haven't discusses any names. We want a consensus candidate and that will be better for all of us. We have also decided the opposition should work together," Banerjee told media here.

She further said that both the leaders will meet again most probably next week as the presidential election is approaching.

With President Pranab Mukherjee's term set to end in July, Gandhi has already met Janata Dal-United JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar.

According to reports, Congress Pradesh Committee president Adhir Chowdhury has written a letter to the party high command, requesting her to deal with Banerjee carefully as most of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders are under the scanner in Saradha and Narada scams.

Sources in the TMC said that Banerjee might place President Mukherjee's name as one of her choices.

However looking at the present situation, where the party is on the radar due to the ongoing investigations involving several scams, the West Bengal Chief Minister might settle for a common candidate selected by all major parties.

After meeting with the Congress president, Banerjee may meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal next week.

-ANI