With the UPA declaring Pranab Mukherjee as its candidate for the President's post, now the the main opposition group NDA is going to finalize its presidential candidate today. The NDA is expected to meet on Wednesday to finalize its candidate.

Sources said that the BJP wants a contest against UPA's nominee Pranab Mukherjee, the only option being PA Sangma. However, the JD(U) and Shiv Sena have openly supported Pranab. The NDA is facing troubles despite a dominant section in the BJP as well as its patron RSS in favour of a contest, ally Shiv Sena declared its support for Pranab Mukherjee while another constituent of the Opposition alliance JD-U stopped short of making its support to UPA nominee public.

The ongoing Presidential race has divided parties and alliances across the political spectrum which are facing a piquant situation following revolt by their constituents over the choice of candidate. The ruling UPA had earlier experienced the most dramatic turn of events with eight-year-old ally Trinamool Congress rejecting the official nominee of the alliance Pranab Mukherjee and backing a candidate in APJ Abdul Kalam, who refused to contest finally. Samajwadi Party, which is supporting the government from outside, made curious twists and turns by first joining hands with Banerjee in rejecting the UPA nominees and then rallying behind Pranab.