Pranab Mukherjee files nomination for presidential poll

New Delhi - 28 June 2012: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nomineePranab Mukherjeefiled his nomination for thepresidential electionon Thursday.

Mukherjee, who resigned from the Union Cabinet on Tuesday, filed his nomination papers at around 11 am in the presence ofUPAchairpersonSonia Gandhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister DrManmohan Singh. Samajwadi Party'sMulayam Singh Yadavand Rashtriya Janata Dal's Lalu Prasad were amongst the leaders present as Mukherjee filed his papers.

The Prime Minister had on Tuesday expressed his government's gratitude to Pranab Mukherjee for his invaluable contribution to its work over the last eight years, and expressed hope of seeing him become India's next President.

The resignation of 77-year-old Mukherjee brought an end to his distinguished 43-year-long political career.

The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24.

source: TNN