Presidential Poll: Pranab calls Mahto

Seeks support from Jharkhand Deputy CM and AJSU party president Sudesh Mahto

UPA Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee has sought support from Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister and AJSU party president Sudesh Mahto for his candidature, a senior party leader said today.

"Pranab Mukherjee yesterday called our president Sudesh Mahto over phone and sought support from the Ajsu party," party's vice president Praveen Prabhakar said.

Though he did not disclose details of the conversation between the two leaders, Prabhakar said Ajsu favours a consensus candidate.

"Our party leader's opinion is that there should be a consensus on candidate, and all parties should discuss over it," he said.

The Ajsu party, which has six MLAs in the 82-member Jharkhand assembly (including a nominated MLA), is a constituent in the BJP-led state government.