PTI

New Delhi, May 29: 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 Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence where the leaders are understood to have held talks on the issue of UPA candidate for the forthcoming Presidential poll.

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 in New Delhi.

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.