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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Group of Five may not back UPA candidate </b>
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
SP, TDP, ADMK, AGP, INLD likely to support independent Shekhawat

The Samajwadi Party-led group of five regional political parties is unlikely to back a Congress nominee for the top post. The leaders of SP, Telugu Desam Party, Indian National Lok Dal, AIADMK and AGP are meeting in Hyderabad on Wednesday where the issue of presidential poll will be discussed threadbare. 

While the opinion among the G-5 leaders was so far divided on supporting a NDA-backed candidate either, there seems to be a complete convergence on not supporting a Congress nominee as successor to President APJ Abdul Kalam.

"There is no question of supporting a UPA candidate," said a senior leader of the G-5.

However, the G-5 leaders may opt to wait and watch and play their cards only when the UPA formally comes out with the name of the presidential candidate. No formal announcement on presidential poll is expected on Wednesday at Hyderabad.

Congress leaders have given up hopes of getting the support of G-5 leaders. The internal list of parties likely to support a Congress nominee did not include the names of SP, AIADMK, TDP, INLD and AGP, sources said. 
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